Friday, January 28, 2000
NKU 97, Southern Indiana 79
Norse move to half-game off GLVC lead
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — In the nation's toughest Division II men's basketball conference, gaining ground can take as long as a march through a mine field. But with slow, steady steps, Northern Kentucky University is sneaking toward safety.
After losing their Great Lakes Valley Conference opener Dec. 2 at Lewis, the Norse have needed nearly two months to make it up in the standings. After Thursday's 87-79 victory over No.5 Southern Indiana, the GLVC's last unbeaten team, the 10th-ranked Norse have closed within a half-game of the lead.
“It has been a battle to get back to this point, but this team has shown a lot of character,” NKU coach Ken Shields said.
NKU (16-2, 8-1 GLVC) has won eight consecutive games and 12 of its last 13, and is tied for second with Kentucky Wesleyan (14-1, 8-1). The Norse will try on Monday to end their 11-game losing streak at Wesleyan; the winner likely ties USI (14-2, 9-1) for the league lead.
“This was voted the Conference of the Decade by Division II Bulletin, so we knew it wasn't going to be easy after losing our first game,” NKU junior center Zach Wieber said. “That loss was an awakening, though. It got us back to playing well.”
NKU had to overcome a slew of adversity Thursday:
Top post player Billy Brewster, suffering from strep throat, played only two minutes. Four-year starter Kevin Listerman, who also has strep, fouled out with 17:09 left in the game. A third starter, leading scorer Craig Sanders, was saddled with four fouls for the final 17:56.
That's where NKU's depth saved it. The Norse placed five scorers in double figures and made 34 of 44 free throws (.773) to end a four-game losing streak against the Screaming Eagles.
“The difference was the play inside,” USI coach Bruce Pearl said. “I thought we had an advantage with Brewster out, but Wieber and (Adam) Norwell dominated us.”
Wieber, normally a reserve, started and totaled 15 points and seven rebounds. Norwell, who had just one point and one rebound at halftime, finished with 14 points and six rebounds.
Reserve guard Brenden Stowers, a freshman from Simon Kenton, scored a team-high 16 points to help atone for Listerman's relative absence.
“Everyone stepped up and did what they had to,” Stowers said.
SOUTHERN INDIANA (79) — Ademi 2-6 4-4 8, Kelley 1-5 5-5 8, Green 4-8 0-2 8, Hughes 7-15 2-2 17, Lyons 4-10 1-3 9, Roberts 0-0 0-0 0, Givens 6-7 2-3 14, Kain 3-4 0-2 9, Berry 0-1 2-2 2, Herdes 0-2 0-1 0, Harris 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 29-60 16-24 79.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY (87) — Sanders 3-8 3-3 10, Norwell 4-6 6-13 14, Wieber 5-6 5-6 15, Lawhon 2-6 4-4 9, Listerman 1-3 0-0 2, Conley 2-9 8-8 12, Stowers 4-9 7-7 16, Brewster 0-0 1-3 1, Rupe 0-0 0-0 0, Marston 3-10 0-0 8. Totals: 24-57 34-44 87.
Halftime: USI, 37-34. 3-point field goals: USI 5-22 (Ademi 0-2, Kelley 1-5, Hughes 1-6, Lyons 0-3, Kain 3-4, Berry 0-1, Herdes 0-1), NKU 5-16 (Sanders 1-2, Lawhon 1-3, Listerman 0-1, Conley 0-2, Stowers 1-2, Marston 2-6). Rebounds: USI 41 (Givens 12), NKU 32 (Wieber 7). Assists: USI 12 (Hughes 4), NKU 10 (Conley 4). Total fouls: USI 30, NKU 24. Attendance: 1,743.
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