Fri., Jan. 11 - Highland Heights, Ky.
The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)
Lipscomb (6-9, 1-3 A-Sun) at NKU (3-9, 1-3), 7:05 p.m.
NKU Radio: WCVX 1050 AM
•Jim Kelch (play-by-play) & Steve Moeller (color)
TV/Internet: CSS/A-Sun Friday Night and ESPN3
Series Record: Lipscomb leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: David Lipscomb 89, Northern Kentucky 84 (2-5-72)
NORSE NOTES (FIVE STARTERS & ONE)
1• NKU is 3-9 after dropping a 49-44 decision to visiting East Tennessee State on Monday night.
2• NKU passed the one million mark in all-time home attendance Monday, as the Norse men have now drawn a total of 1,000,312 since their debut in 1971.
3•
Eshaunte Jones scored 18 points to lead NKU in the loss to East Tennessee State.
4• The Norse own a 53-9 all-time record in The Bank of Kentucky Center, including an 0-2 mark this season.
5• NKU and Lipscomb have not met since the 1971-72 season, when they played three times.
+1• NKU is 0-7 this season when trailing at the half.
SAME SCHOOLS, MODIFIED NAMES: On Dec. 4, 1971, then-Northern Kentucky State College – in its first season of fielding athletics - met David Lipscomb College in a tournament in Lexington, Ky. NKSC won that first encounter, 85-75, in the consolation game of the Transylvania Tip-Off Classic.
A month later, on Jan. 8, 1972, Bruce Bowers scored 43 points as David Lipscomb rolled to a 93-77 win over Northern Kentucky at Grant County High School. Bowers poured in 34 points in the first half as David Lipscomb built a 50-26 lead at the break. It marked the first time an opposing player had scored at least 40 points against the Norsemen.
On Friday, Northern Kentucky University plays host to Lipscomb University as the two schools renew their rivalry under slightly different names. The Bisons own a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with NKU, but the programs have not met since the 1971-72 season, when they played three times.
BEAR OFF THE BENCH: NKU senior guard Eshaunte “Bear” Jones came off the bench to score 18 points in the loss to East Tennessee State on Monday night. Jones has averaged 18.3 points per game the past three contests coming off the bench. He leads NKU in scoring at 13.8 points per game, which is 10th in the A-Sun.
In addition, Jones is No. 3 in the A-Sun in 3-point field goals made (2.7). He has scored in double figures eight times this season, with a high of 24 points against Cal State Northridge on Nov. 18.
POINTS AT A PREMIUM: During its 49-44 win Monday night, East Tennessee State became the first visiting team to hold NKU below 50 points in The Bank of Kentucky Center. Prior to Monday, the last time NKU scored less than 50 points at home was on n Feb. 9, 1985, when the Norse posted a 42-40 victory over Thomas More in Regents Hall.
OUTSIDE DEFENSE: NKU is No. 2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference in 3-point shooting defense, holding opponents to 29.9 percent from behind the arc. The Norse are also No. 2 in the A-Sun in scoring defense at 60.2 points per game allowed this season.
NORSE FLOOR GENERAL: NKU senior point guard
Ethan Faulkner is No. 6 in assists (3.1 apg) and No. 3 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) in the latest A-Sun statistics. Faulkner enters Friday's game with 617 points and 298 assists in his career. He has started 58 times and played in 102 games during his four years with the Norse.
STEAL THE SHOW: NKU junior guard
Chad Jackson is No. 3 in the A-Sun in steals with an average of 1.8 spg. The Norse are averaging 7.5 steals against conference teams, which is No. 2 in the A-Sun.
TREY-RIFFIC: NKU freshman
Tyler White is tied with teammate
Eshaunte Jones for fifth place in the A-Sun in 3-point shooting at .364. White is 12-for-33 from long range and averages 5.8 points per game. Earlier this season, he poured in a career-high 14 points against Texas Tech.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: NKU will play on a Friday for the first time this season when it faces Lipscomb.
BEZOLD IN JANUARY: NKU head coach
Dave Bezold owns a 49-26 record in the month of January during his career. Now in his ninth season as the Norse head coach, Bezold is 164-88 at NKU.
