A Saturday evening showdown with Southeast Missouri State at BB&T Arena awaits the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team. The game will be played as part of a doubleheader with the women’s basketball team, who faces Akron at 4:30 p.m.
Tip-off for the men’s basketball game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (2-6 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks (0-9 Overall, 0-0 OVC)
Saturday, Dec. 19 – 7 p.m.
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 with Brady Laber (Play-by-Play) and Brad Redford (Analysis)
Radio: FOXSports 1360 (1360 AM) with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Analysis)
Scouting SEMO: Southeast Missouri State, under the guidance of first-year head coach Rick Ray, has yet to find the winning column at 0-9. Opponents are scoring 78.0 points per game against the Redhawks, who only average 59.9 points per game. Both of those numbers rank in the bottom 60 of the 351 Division I programs. The Redhawks also convert just 37.3 percent of their field goal attempts, but allow their opponents to make 46.0 percent.
Antonius Cleveland averages a team-best 13.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Trey Kellum is second on the team in scoring at 9.6 points per game.
Northern Kentucky and Southeast Missouri State have met only one other time. SEMO picked up a 79-65 win during the 2013-14 season when the teams met in the Cure UCD Classic (NKU Athletics Photo)
Series Stuff: Northern Kentucky and Southeast Missouri State have met only one other time. SEMO picked up a 79-65 win during the 2013-14 season when the teams met in the Cure UCD Classic. White scored 22 points for NKU on 8-for-16 shooting in that game.
Last Time Out: After a strong first half, the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team struggled to connect from the floor in the second period, falling to Michigan 77-62 at the Crisler Center Tuesday night. Billups led the Norse with 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting to go with a team-high six rebounds. Murray joined Billups in double-figures with 15 points after going 6-for-9 with a trio of treys, while Lavone Holland II chipped in 12 points.
Fast Break Points
• NKU fell on the road to Michigan, 77-62, on one day’s rest Tuesday.
• NKU shot 53.6 percent in the opening frame and 45.6 percent for the game.
• NKU was outrebounded by UM, 29-28, narrowly missing a third-straight game outrebounding its opponent.
• According to Ken Pomeroy & KenPom.com, NKU has played the 25th-toughest schedule.
• Four Norse are averaging 10 or more points per game this season, led by F Jalen Billups at 15.3.
• Billups led the nation w/ 69.6% shooting last year, and is among the nation’s leaders at 65.8% (59-76) this year.
• Billups ranks among NKU’s all-time leaders in FG % (2nd, .637), blocks (5th, 107) & blocks per game (11th, 1.1).
• In the last four games, Billups is averaging 19 points, 8.0 rebounds and is shooting 66.0% (33-of-50).
• Billups and G Tyler White are climbing NKU’s all-time scoring list. Billups ranks 29th w/ 941 points & White is No. 39 (839).
• White led NKU in made 3’s (66) in ‘14-15 & is 11th in NKU’s record books with 153-career treys.
• White has matched his career-high in assists (7) twice in the last three games and is averaging a career-best 4.1 apg.
• G Lavone Holland is averaging a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game. He is second on the team in scoring at 11.6 points.
• G Cole Murray has had the hot hand from long range, shooting 51.3% (20-of-39) from behind the arc this year.
• Murray is one of four Norse averaging double-figures this year, checking in at 10.0 ppg.
• In the last four games, Murray is averaging 13 ppg on the strength of 52.9 percent shooting from the floor.
Promotions
— Cap Giveaway – First 1,000 fans receive a free NKU baseball cap
— Teddy Bear Prize Toss – Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear to donate to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital; bears can be tagged at the marketing table behind section 105 and fans will toss them onto the court at halftime, with prizes being awarded to the bears that come closest to 10 targets scattered on the court; four grand prizes, set around the half-court circle, include a 43” LG HDTV, iPad mini, Fitbit Flex and PS4 Star Wars Bundle (plus NKA 2K16 and NBA Live 15); Six additional prizes will scattered around the court and feature pairs of all-session tickets to Motor City Madness, the Horizon League men’s basketball tournament in Detroit.
— Kenton County Day – $5 tickets with proof of residency
— #4for40 Day – Get four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for $40
— Shoot-Around Saturday – Boys 6th grade and younger and girls 8th grade and younger can join the team on the court after the game for a shoot-around and get player autographs
From NKU Athletics
