Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball will continue its three-game home-stand when it hosts Youngstown State in Horizon League action on Thursday at BB&T Arena.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (4-10 Overall, 0-3 Horizon League)
Youngstown State University Penguins (7-10 Overall, 2-2 Horizon League)
Thursday, Jan. 14 – 7 p.m. (ET)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 with Brady Laber (Play-by-Play) and Brad Redford (Analysis)
Radio: FOXSports1360 (1360 AM) with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Analysis)
In Northern Kentucky’s last outing, Jalen Billups eclipsed 1,000-career points and Tyler White surpassed 900 (NKU Athletics Photo)
Fast Break Points
• NKU is in the midst of a three-game homestand. The Norse are also in a stretch of 10 games where eight are at @theBBTarena.
• NKU and YSU played last year. Despite five players in double-digits, NKU fell, 78-74.
• Against Wright State, NKU shot 63.2 percent (12-of-19) in the first half.
• Three Norse are averaging 10 or more points per game this season, led by F Jalen Billups at 13.2.
• With a two-hand jam in the first half against Wright State, Billups became the 24th Norse to score 1,000 career points.
• Billups led the nation w/ 69.6% shooting last year, and is among the nation’s leaders at 63.0% (75-119) this year.
• Billups ranks among NKU’s all-time leaders in FG % (2nd, .634), blocks (5th, 116) & blocks per game (11th, 1.1).
• Billups is averaging an impressive 1.55 points per field-goal attempt this season.
• Billups and G Tyler White are climbing NKU’s all-time scoring list. Billups ranks 24th w/ 1,004 points & White is No. 32 (902).
• White ranks 10th in NKU’s record books with 158-career treys and has his sights set on Tony Rack’s 160.
• G Lavone Holland II is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points and is tied for the team lead in rebounds (5.9).
• G Cole Murray has had the hot hand from long range, shooting 41.4% (29-of-70) from behind the arc this year.
• Murray is averaging a career-high 9.8 points per game.
• After flirting w/ double-doubles several other times, F Drew McDonald recorded the first of his career with 12 points, 13 rebounds at GB.
• In the last six games, McDonald is averaging 11.3 points on 51.0 percent shooting (25-of-49) and 7.5 rebounds per game.
• In @HorizonLeague play, F Jordan Garnett is averaging 5.7 rebounds per game, which is up from 2.4 in non-conference action.
Norse women visit Oakland for Horizon encounter
he Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team hits the road once more for Horizon League action on Thursday when the Norse take on Oakland. Tipoff from the Athletic Center O’rena in Rochester, Michigan, is set for 7 p.m., with the action carried live on ESPN3.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (9-5, 1-2 Horizon)
Oakland University Golden Grizzlies (10-5, 2-2 Horizon)
Jan. 14 – 7 p.m.
Athletic Center O’rena (3,000) – Rochester, Mich.
TV: ESPN3
Series History: (all-time) Oakland leads, 5-1; (since 2012-13) First meeting
Last Time Out: After trailing by as many as 25 points in the first half against Wright State, NKU turned the corner and pulled within a single point, but could not find the go-ahead bucket in a 66-61 setback in Dayton, Ohio. Christine Roush led the way with 16 points, including 13 in the second half, and Shar’Rae Davis chipped in 11. Kasey Uetrecht added a career-high 14 rebounds to go with nine points.
Kim Demmings went for 22 points on 8-of-23 shooting, while Richelle van der Keijl added 16 points and 14 rebounds.
About Oakland: The Golden Grizzlies stand at 10-5 on the season with a 2-2 mark in Horizon League play after dropping an 81-66 decision to Valparaiso on the road last Saturday.
Olivia Nash leads Oakland’s efforts with 16.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Her 62.2 field goal percentage leads the team and ranks second in the League. Taylor Jones, the reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Week, is averaging 14.1 points, primarily off the bench, while Elena Popkey’s 5.1 assists rank second in the League to go with 10.9 points.
The Series: Oakland leads the all-time series against NKU, 5-1, as the teams renew their rivalry for the first time since 1997. Oakland took a 74-66 victory in the last game between the clubs, played at Regents Hall on Dec. 30, 1997.
Fast Break Points
• Northern Kentucky is on the second game of a three-game road trip in Horizon League play. NKU will wrap up the weekend at Detroit.
• The Norse outscored Wright State by a 34-22 margin in the second half on Saturday in a comeback bid against their Horizon League rivals.
• On the season, NKU has outscored opponents in the second half, 535-445, an average of 6.4 point advantage per game.
• NKU has held its League opponents to 60 points per game, ranking third in the League.
• NKU has continued its dominating possession game into League play, posting a +7.0 turnover margin to lead the League.
• NKU’s overall turnover margin of +4.9 ranks 21st in the nation.
• The Norse have forced 15 or more turnovers in 13 of their 14 games this season, and have forced 72 errors in their last four games.
• The Norse rank third in the League in FG shooting (43.2%) and lead the League in FT shooting (77.2%).
• NKU’s 77.2 percent free-throw accuracy ranks ninth among all Division I programs.
• Thursday’s contest will mark the first time NKU has played back-to-back road games this season.
• NKU’s bench continues to provide the pop, as the Norse reserves have outscored their opponent’s bench, 45-40, in League play.
• F Kasey Uetrecht set a career high with 14 rebounds against Wright State, pulling double-digit boards for the second time in four games.
• G Christine Roush remains one of the top scoring threats in the League, averaging 16.1 points to rank fifth among Horizon players.
• Roush leads the Horizon League and ranks 10th nationally in free-throw percentage at 90.5 percent.
• G Shar’Rae Davis posted an 11-point effort at Wright State on Saturday to lead the effort off the bench.
• G Sarah Kinch returned to the lineup on Saturday, going 2-for-3 from the field and leads the Norse with a 59.1 FG percent.
• G Rianna Gayheart’s 2.0 assists per turnover ranks fourth among Horizon League players.
From NKU Athletics
