Thurs., Jan. 16 - Highland Heights, Ky. - 7 p.m.
The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)
Mercer (13-5, 4-1 A-Sun) at Northern Kentucky (7-11, 3-3 A-Sun)
NKU Radio: WQRT 1160 AM
•Jim Kelch (play-by-play) & Steve Moeller (color)
Series Record: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: MU 63, NKU 46 (2-23-13)
NKU PLAYS HOST TO MERCER ON THURSDAY NIGHT
Norse (7-11, 3-3 A-Sun) look to start new winning streak
NORSE NOTES (FIVE STARTERS & ONE)
1• NKU is 7-11 overall after dropping a 74-65 decision at East Tennessee State on Saturday. The Norse are 3-3 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
2• NKU's
Jordan Jackson netted 20 points in the loss at ETSU. Jackson leads NKU in scoring at 15.0 ppg.
3•
Jalen Billups grabbed 12 rebounds and finished with 10 points at ETSU, while
Daniel Camps added 12 points and dished out a career-high three assists.
4• NKU and Mercer split two games last season, with the home team winning by identical 63-46 scores.
5• NKU is 63-13 all-time in The Bank of Kentucky Center, including 5-2 this season.
+1• The Norse have won five straight home games.
MERCER VISITS NKU: Northern Kentucky begins a three-game homestand Thursday night when Atlantic Sun Conference powerhouse Mercer visits The Bank of Kentucky Center for a 7 p.m. showdown.
NKU is 7-11 overall, 3-3 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Mercer is 13-5 overall, and the Bears are tied for first place with Florida Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 4-1 record.
Mercer is the defending Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season champion. The Bears own a road victory at Ole Miss this season.
COMPLETE REVERSALS: NKU is 1-1 all-time against Mercer. The teams split two games last season, with the home team winning by identical 63-46 scores.
ON A ROLL AT HOME: NKU has run off five consecutive home wins after dropping its first two games in The Bank of Kentucky Center this season. All five of those home wins have been come-from-behind victories, three of which NKU trailed by double figures.
Dating back to last season, NKU has won four straight home games against Atlantic Sun Conference opponents. The Norse closed the home season a year ago with victories over North Florida and Jacksonville. NKU began home conference action this season with wins against those same two teams.
JACKSON FOR 3: Jordan Jackson leads NKU in scoring (15.0 points per game), steals (1.6 spg) and assists (2.8 apg). The junior guard also buried a trio of 3-pointers on the recent road trip to USC Upstate and East Tennessee State, his first treys of the season. One of the nation's top offensive players off the dribble and an outstanding leaper, Jackson is 3-for-10 from 3-point range this season.
Jackson has scored in double figures five consecutive games going into Thursday night. He has netted double-digit scoring 13 times in the 16 games he has played in this season, including four games of 20 points or more.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS: Jalen Billups equalled his career high for rebounds with 12 boards at East Tennessee State. Billups also added 10 points to collect his third double-double of the season. Billups averages 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
GOING FOR 180: NKU head coach
Dave Bezold has 179 career victories going into Thursday. Bezold, in his 10th season on the Norse sideline, is 179-106.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST MERCER: On Feb. 23, 2013, Travis Smith scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds as Mercer posted a 63-46 win over NKU in Macon, Ga.
Mercer held NKU to 34 percent shooting from the field and finished with a 35-18 advantage in rebounds to avenge an earlier loss to the Norse. The Bears shot 51.3 percent from the field in front of a Hawkins Arena record-crowd of 3,527.
Eshaunte Jones finished with a game-high 19 points for the Norse, while Stretch Watson added 10 points and five rebounds.
THURSDAY'S PROMOTIONS: The NKU/Mercer game is "Throwback Thursday White Out" presented by Pepsi. All fans should wear white to the game. In addition, the first 500 students will receive a free White Out shirt.
• There will also be a Mascot Basketball game at halftime with all your favorite local mascots, including Reds mascots and Who Dey. In addition, $1 select beverages will be on sale.
• NKU students can sign up on Thursday in the student union during lunch for a chance to win a full-stocked mini fridge courtesy of Pepsi. The winner will be announced at halftime on Thursday and they must be in attendance to win.
