The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will head to Charleston, Illinois, to close a three-game stretch of road contests when it faces Eastern Illinois at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (1-4 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Eastern Illinois University Panthers (1-4 Overall, 0-0 OVC)
Saturday, Dec. 5 – 8 p.m.
Lantz Arena (5,400) in Charleston, Ill.
TV: OVC Digital Network
Radio: 55KRC (550 AM) with Andrew Kappes (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Analysis)
Scouting Eastern Illinois: Eastern Illinois is 1-4 on the season, with losses to No. 15 Indiana (88-49), Ball State (73-56), Western Illinois (83-63) and Green Bay (81-72). EIU played host to Indiana State in its last outing, earning its first victory of the season in a 68-62 result.
NKU and EIU are 2-2 all-time, although the teams have not met since the 1980-81 season (NKU Athletics Photo)
The Panthers are paced by A.J. Riley, who averages 15.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Trae Anderson is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points. On the season, EIU only averages 61.6 points per game and has been outrebounded by 12 boards per contest. The Panthers shoot at a 38 percent clip and have allowed opponents to connect on 45.5 percent. However, the script was flipped against Indiana State, where EIU made 45.5 percent and held the Sycamores to only 38.5 percent shooting.
Series Stuff: Northern Kentucky is 2-2 all-time against Eastern Illinois, although the two teams have not met since the 1980-81 season. NKU and EIU played four-consecutive season from 1977-78 to 1980-81. The Norse laid claim to the first two games, while the Panthers won the last two.
Last Time Out: Northern Kentucky shot nearly 50 percent in the first half and took a 39-37 advantage into intermission following Deontae Cole’s tip-in at the buzzer. However, North Carolina A&T outscored the Norse, 37-24, in the second half to hand NKU the 74-63 loss. After NC A&T built an eight-point margin at 56-48 Billups came through with back-to-back slams. NKU later whittled its deficit to three, 61-58, following a pair of White free throws and another Billups bucket.
An 8-0 run from NC A&T pushed the Aggies in front by 11, but NKU responded with a triple and layup from Holland II to close the gap to six, 69-63. However, the Aggies converted five free throws down the stretch to seal the game. Billups reached 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor. He added a game-high-tying seven rebounds. NC A&T’s Sam Hunt tallied a game-best 32 points.
Fast Break Points
• NKU embarks on its final contest in a three-game road swing when it takes on Eastern Illinois Saturday.
• According to kenpom.com, NKU has played the 18th toughest schedule with games vs. XU (14th) & West Virginia (18th).
• Ten Norse are averaging 10 or more minutes per game this season, led by G Lavone Holland II at 31.2.
• F Jalen Billups led the nation w/ 69.6% shooting last year, setting NKU’s single-season record. He’s currently shooting 64.1% (25-39).
• Billups ranks among NKU’s all-time leaders in FG % (2nd, .635), blocks (5th, 104) & blocks per game (11th, 1.1).
• Billups and G Tyler White are climbing NKU’s all-time scoring list. Billups ranks 33rd w/ 885 points & White is No. 40 (810).
• Billups is just 15 points away from 900 career points. He would become the 31st Norse player to reach the mark.
• White poured in a career-high 25 points against No. 23 Xavier. He shot 7-of-16 from the field and 8-of-9 at the line.
• White led NKU in made 3’s (66) in ‘14-15 & is 13th in NKU’s record books with 147-career treys.
• In the last four games G Holland II has averaged 11.3 points, 8.5 rebounds & 5.5 assists per game.
• Holland is averaging a team-best 7.6 rebounds per game.
• Holland has reached double-figures in all five contests this season, the only Norse to do so.
• G Cole Murray has had the hot hand from long range, shooting 50% (9-of-18) from behind the arc this year.
• F/C Drew McDonald is averaging 4.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg as just a freshman.
From NKU Athletics
