Thurs., Jan. 9 - Spartanburg, S.C. - 7 p.m.
G.B. Hodge Center (818)
Northern Kentucky (7-9, 3-1) at USC Upstate (7-8, 0-2)
NKU Radio: WQRT 1160 AM
•Jim Kelch (play-by-play) & Steve Moeller (color)
Series Record: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: NKU 70, USCU 65 (2-2-13)
NKU MEETS USC UPSTATE ON THURSDAY
Norse (7-9, 3-1 A-Sun) seek fourth straight win
NORSE NOTES (FIVE STARTERS & ONE)
1• NKU extended its winning streak to three with a 70-64 victory over North Florida on Monday. The Norse are 7-9, overall, 3-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
2• The Norse collected a season-high 12 blocks against North Florida, with
Jalen Billups swatting a career-best five shots.
3•
Jordan Jackson scored 16 points and added a career-high four blocks for the Norse.
4• The Norse are now 63-13 all-time in The Bank of Kentucky Center, including 5-2 this season.
5• NKU has won five consecutive home games.
+1• NKU is 1-1 all-time against USC Upstate.
NKU HITS ROAD: Northern Kentucky begins a two-game road trip Thursday night at South Carolina Upstate at 7 p.m. The Norse are 7-9 overall, 3-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. USC Upstate is 7-8 overall, 0-2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. That game can be seen live on ESPN3.
NKU concludes the trip Saturday with a 4 p.m. game at East Tennessee State.
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. The Norse rallied from eight points down in the second half Saturday night to defeat Jacksonville. NKU overcame a five-point deficit in the second half to knock off North Florida.
IMPACT NEWCOMER: NKU junior guard
Jordan Jackson has twice been named the Atlantic Sun Conference Newcomer of the Week, and he leads the Norse in scoring at 14.6 points per game. Jackson netted 16 points in the North Florida win and finished with a career-high four blocked shots. Jackson has scored in double figures 11 times this season.
INSIDE FORCE: Norse sophomore post player
Jalen Billups scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a career-high five shots in the win over North Florida. Billups leads NKU in blocks (22), rebounding (5.1 rpg) and field-goal percentage (.585). He enters Thursday's game with 347 career points.
UNBEATEN IN 2014: NKU is 3-0 in January and have averaged 70.0 points per game in those three wins.
OFF THE BENCH: Sophomore center
Jake Giesler sparked NKU with 11 points off the bench Monday night. Giesler also scored a pair of crucial baskets late in the second half.
NEARING 300: Norse sophomore guard
Tyler White enters Thursday with 299 career points. White averages 10.3 points
per game this season.
NEW TERRITORY: NKU is two games above .500 in Atlantic Sun Conference play for the first time. Last season, the Norse posted a 9-9 mark in conference play during their first year of Division I play.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST USC UPSTATE: On Feb. 2, 2013, NKU placed four players in double figures to pull out a 70-65 win at USC Upstate.
Eshaunte Jones netted 18 points to lead the Norse, while
Chad Jackson added 17 points,
Tyler White scored 13 off the bench and
Ethan Faulkner netted 10 points.
The Norse shredded the USC Upstate defense for 56.4 percent shooting from the field. Jones scored 13 points in the first half as Northern Kentucky built a 38-32 lead at the break.
USC Upstate battled from behind the entire second half and had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds. Trailing 68-65, USC Upstate's Adrian Rodgers launched a 3-point attempt that missed its mark, and Jackson rebounded. Jackson was fouled and converted both free throws to seal the Norse win.
