Northern Kentucky’s men’s basketball team will play its third home contest in the last four games when it hosts IU Kokomo on Wednesday in a pre-Christmas showdown slated to begin at 7 p.m.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (3-6 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Indiana University Kokomo Cougars (4-8 Overall, 0-0 KIAC)
Wednesday, Dec. 23 – 7 p.m. (ET)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 with Brady Laber (Play-by-Play) and Brandon Cole (Analysis)
Radio: 55KRC (550 AM) with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Analysis)
Scouting IU Kokomo: Indiana University Kokomo has had a busy month in December. Wednesday’s game with the Norse is the Cougars’ 10th of the month. In the last 13 days alone, which includes Dec. 23 at NKU, IU Kokomo has played six games. On the year, the Cougars are 4-8 and have played two Division I opponents (Valparaiso and Ball State) that counted as exhibition games for IUK. A Monday evening showdown with the University of Michigan-Dearborn is not factored into the record and stats.
A 79-69 decision on Saturday night gave Northern Kentucky its second win in the last three games. The Norse host IU Kokomo Wednesday (NKU Athletics Photo)
Series Stuff: Wednesday’s showdown will mark the first time Northern Kentucky and IU Kokomo have met on the hardwood. The Wolverines are one of nine new opponents for the Norse this season, including Cleveland State, Detroit, Green Bay, Michigan, Milwaukee, Norfolk State, UIC and Valparaiso.
Last Time Out: Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team was led by Billups’ double-double as it cruised to a 79-69 victory over Southeast Missouri State at BB&T on Saturday night. Billups posted his second double-double in four games with 11 boards to go with his 17 total points. Billups was joined in double-figures by Murray with 12 points and Holland II and Dean Danos with 10. White dished out seven assists for the third time in the last four games as the Norse ended the night with a season-high 20 total assists on 28 field goals.
Countdown to 1,000 and 500: With 17 points at Eastern Illinois, Billups became the 31st Norse to reach 900 points for his career. His sights are now set on the 1,000-point plateau and he is just 42 points away with 958.
Billups also has 490 career boards, which stands just 10 away from the top-20 all time. Nine other Norse have reached 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds, while 23 players have reached the century mark in scoring and 20 have amassed 500 boards.
Fast Break Points
• NKU won for the second-time in the last three games, defeating SEMO, 79-69.
• NKU placed four players in double-figures, led by F Jalen Billups’ 17 points.
• For the third time in the last four games NKU won the rebound battle, besting SEMO, 34-29.
• NKU recorded a season-best 20 assists on 28 made shots.
• Four Norse are averaging 10 or more points per game this season, led by Billups at 15.4.
• Billups led the nation w/ 69.6% shooting last year, and is among the nation’s leaders at 66.7% (56-84) this year.
• Billups ranks among NKU’s all-time leaders in FG % (2nd, .639), blocks (5th, 109) & blocks per game (11th, 1.1).
• In the last five games, Billups is averaging 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and is shooting 67.2% (33-of-50).
• Billups is averaging an impressive 1.65 points per field-goal attempt this season.
• Billups and G Tyler White are climbing NKU’s all-time scoring list. Billups ranks 27th w/ 958 points & White is No. 39 (844).
• White led NKU in made 3’s (66) in ‘14-15 & is 11th in NKU’s record books with 154-career treys.
• White has matched his career-high in assists (7) three times in the last four games and is averaging a career-best 4.4 apg.
• G Lavone Holland II is averaging a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game. He is second on the team in scoring at 11.4 points.
• G Cole Murray has had the hot hand from long range, shooting 47.8% (22-of-46) from behind the arc this year.
• Murray is one of four Norse averaging double-figures this year, checking in at 10.8 ppg.
• In the last five games Murray is averaging 12.8 ppg on the strength of 52.9 percent shooting from the floor.
• F Drew McDonald narrowly missed a double-double versus SEMO with nine points and eight boards.
From NKU Athletics
