Northern Kentucky University has announced that the University of Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team will play its 2017-18 slate of games at BB&T Arena at Northern Kentucky University.
“We are pleased to assist the University of Cincinnati and its men’s basketball program for the 2017-18 season and to host the Bearcats in BB&T Arena during their renovation of Fifth Third Arena, ” said Ken Bothof, Northern Kentucky University’s Director of Athletics. “We certainly appreciate the great working relationship we have had with Mike Bohn and all of his staff throughout this process.”
BB&T Arena is the newest basketball facility in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati Area. Located just seven miles from downtown Cincinnati on NKU’s Highland Heights campus, the $60-million state-of-the-art arena opened in 2008 and features two party suites and 12 luxury suites. BB&T Arena is home to Norse men’s and women’s basketball, and regularly hosts other events such as concerts, comedians and shows.
“We are excited to host the UC Bearcats next year and expose a new fan base to our beautiful arena,” said Andy Meeks, Director of Business Operations and Auxiliary Services.
With the NKU and UC men’s basketball teams both competing in the facility next year, BB&T Arena will feature two of the area’s top Division I programs. The two teams have already combined for 38 wins this year.
Northern Kentucky University is a member of the Horizon League, while the University of Cincinnati is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
NKU announces 2017 Hall of Fame class
The Northern Kentucky University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced its 2017 Hall of Fame Class – Steven Beattie Bethany Gastright Flick, Linda Honingford, Andy Listerman, Matt Marksbury, Derrik Moeves, Ricki Rothbauer and the 2010 men’s soccer national championship team.
NKU will hold a formal induction ceremony at BB&T Arena on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. Tickets to the event are $25 per person and can be purchased by contacting Jeff Baldwin at (859) 572-6632 or baldwinj5@nku.edu.
Steven Beattie (’10, men’s soccer)
Beattie is the most decorated soccer player in NKU history, earning two Daktronic National Player of the Year honors in 2008 and 2010 and NSCAA National Player of the Year in 2010. Both the NSCAA and Daktronics bestowed all-american status on Beattie all three seasons between 2008-10. He was the 13th overall selection in the 2010 MLS Draft, being selected by Toronto FC. Beattie currently plays professionally for Cork City FC in Ireland, where he won the 2016 FAI Cup.
Bethany Gastright Flick (’01, volleyball)
Gastright’s name litters the NKU record book following a successful career that included a nod as the GLVC Player of the Year (2001) among numerous other all-region and all-conference championships. With Gastright, Northern Kentucky won four GLVC championships and two Great Lakes Regional Championships, while advancing to the NCAA DII Final Four in 1999 and a DII Elite 8 appearance in 1998. She still holds NKU’s single-season record for kills at 600, a total set during the 2000 season, and ranks third for career kills with 1,702.
Linda Honigford (’90, women’s basketball)
Northern Kentucky appeared in three NCAA Division II tournaments during Honigford’s career as a Norse, including a trip to the national semifinals during the 1986-87 season. The Norse also won two GLVC titles during that time. Honingford is currently ranked in the top-10 of Northern Kentucky’s record books in four categories, No. 5 in scoring average (14.3 ppg), No. 7 in scoring (1,482 points), No. 6 in field-goal percentage (.541) and No. 10 in free-throw percentage (.796).
Andy Listerman (’98, men’s basketball)
Listerman was a vital component of four Northern Kentucky men’s basketball teams that played in the NCAA Division II tournament, including the 1995-96 and 1996-97 teams that were national runner-up. With Listerman in uniform, Northern Kentucky posted a 103-23 record for an .817 winning percentage. The 103 wins are the second-most by any Norse in program history. He currently ranks in the top-50 on NKU’s all-time scoring list and top-20 for career free-throw percentage.
Matt Marksbury (’07, baseball)
Marksbury was a three-time team captain who earned ABCA NCAA DII All-America Third Team to go along with GLVC and North Central Region Pitcher of the Year honors in 2007. He currently ranks second all-time in complete games (17), fifth in innings pitched (269.0), tied-seventh in victories (21), eighth in strikeouts (184), and 10th in ERA (2.71). Marksbury closed his career with a 21-10 record while helping the Norse capture two GLVC titles (2004 and 2006) during his playing days.
Derrik Moeves (’05, baseball)
A two-time All-GLVC selection in 2004 and 2005, Moeves currently ranks second all-time at NKU in career-strikeouts with 259. He was an ABCA NCAA DII All-America Third Team member in 2004, while also garnering North Central Region Pitcher of the Year en route to leading Northern Kentucky to an appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament. He earned one All-North Central Region nod (2004) before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft.
Ricki Rothbauer (’06, softball)
Rothbauer’s name litters NKU’s softball record book. She holds the single-season record for runs (48), hits (82), triples (9) and games played (62) for her sensational 2005 campaign, when she helped Northern Kentucky set an NCAA softball record – regardless of divisions – with 55-consecutive wins. Rothbauer is also the career leader in batting average (.372) and triples (18). As of her selection to the Hall of Fame, Rothbauer’s name sits in the top-10 of nine different career-record categories. She was a two-time All-American, earning the distinction in 2005 (First Team) and 2006 (Third Team).
2010 men’s soccer national championship team
The 2010 men’s soccer program provided Northern Kentucky University with its third NCAA Division II National Championship, when it defeated Rollins College, 3-2, in snowy conditions in Louisville, Kentucky. Beattie was named the NCAA National Championship Most Outstanding offensive player and teammate Paul Andrews was tabbed the most outstanding defensive player.
Paul Andrews
Michael Bartlett
Tommy Barrick
Steven Beattie
Dakota Beerman
Nicholas Chiarot
Kevin Donnelly
Ben Dorn
Alec Gates
Jordan Grant
Michael Holder
Ryan Horn
Mike Jonca
Jordan Kotsopoulos
Adam Latham
Michael Lavric
Jack Little
Ruffin Lumbala
Peter Magier
Mike Martin
Stephen McGill
Anthony Meyer
Andrew Montgomery
Matt Olix
Shawn Parker
Hunter Robertson
Mohammad Salhieh
Alex Weber
Head Coach – John Basalyga
Assistant Coach – Eric Busener
From NKU Athletics