Game NotesHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - For the fourth and final time this season, the Northern Kentucky men's basketball team will face a member of the Power 5 conferences when it travels to Evanston, Illinois, for a contest with Northwestern. The game is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. (ET) start at Welsh-Ryan Arena. NKU has been on a roll offensively of late, averaging 88.0 point per game over a four-game stretch in which the Norse are 3-1.
Northern Kentucky University Norse (6-6 Overall, 0-0 Atlantic Sun)
Northwestern University Wildcats (8-4 Overall, 0-0 Big Ten)
Saturday., Dec. 27 - 3:00 p.m. (ET)/2:00 p.m. (CT)
Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,117) in Evanston, Ill.
TV: Big Ten Network with Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Stephanie White (analysis)s
Radio: The Project (100.7/106.3 FM) with Jim Kelch (play-by-play) and Steve Moeller (analysis)
Fast Break Points- An 81-68 victory over Idaho moved NKU to .500 for the third time both this season and in the DI era.
- NKU's 81 points on Monday marked the fourth-straight 80+ point effort, the longest stretch since 10-straight to start the 2011-12 season.
- NKU now has six non-conference wins, its most in the DI era. The Norse won four last season and two the year before.
- Northern Kentucky is averaging 88.0 points per game in its last four contests and is allowing just 68.5 ppg.
- In the last four games, NKU's bench has outscored its opponents, 199-75. The Norse also hold 126-84 advantage in points in the paint.
- G Tayler Persons is the reigning A-Sun Newcomer and Mid-Major Madness Frosh of the Week after averaging 23 ppg last week.
- G Tayler Persons led NKU with 23 points versus Idaho, going 9-of-17 from the field and 4-of-4 at the line.
- #DiaperDandy G Tayler Persons leads NKU in scoring (13.5 ppg), assists (3.4 apg) and steals (1.3).
- F Jalen Billups ranks among NKUís all-time leaders in FG % (2nd, .605), blocks (12th, 68) & blocks per game (14th, 0.9).
- In the last four games, Persons is averaging 20.0 ppg, while White is at 13.5, Billups at 11.3 and Monaco at 10.8.
- F Deontae Cole has started the last four games and is averaging 6.3 points per game on 7-of-14 from three.
- G Jordan Jackson dished out seven assists without recording a miscue versus Idaho.
Persons at the Point
Guard Tayler Persons has emerged as one of NKUís leaders as a true freshman. Persons has recorded double-digit scoring efforts in six of the last seven games, including a career-high 30 points at Chattnooga. The 30-point effort against the Mocs, coupled with a 16-point, eight assist effort at Morehead State, led to both A-Sun Newcomer and Mid-Major Madness Freshman of the Week honors. He tallied a then-career-high 23 points to lead NKU past Idaho, 79-74. Persons' efforts against EWU and Idaho garnered him A-Sun Newcomer of the Week honors.Â
Persons has made his presence felt all over the court for the Norse. He leads Northern Kentucky in scoring (13.5 ppg), assists (3.4 apg) and steals (1.3 spg) and is tied-second on the squad in rebounding at 4.1 rpg.
Getting Offensive
For the first time since the start of the 2011-12 season, Northern Kentucky has scored over 80 points in four-straight contests. The Norse tallied 107 versus UC Clermont and followed with 81 at Chattanooga, 83 at Morehead State and 81 versus Idaho. NKU is averaging 88.0 points per game and is only surrendering 68.5 during the stretch. The Norse are shooting 50.6 percent (121-of-239) from the floor, which includes 45.1 percent (41-of-91) from three-point land, during the four-game stretch.
Also, over that period Tayler Persons is leading a quartet of Norse averaging double-figures at 20.0 points per game. Tyler White (13.5), Jalen Billups (11.3) and Anthony Monaco (10.8) are also scoring at double-digit clips.
Northern Kentucky's bench has outscored its opponents, 199-75, and the Norse have also owned the paint, staking claim to a 126-84 advantage.
Feeling the Holiday Rush
Northern Kentucky played four games in a nine-day stretch prior to the Chrismas holiday, going 3-1 during that span. Consecutive wins over Morehead State and Idaho in the last two games have provided NKU with its fourth-straight season with back-to-back wins prior to Christmas.
Following a four-day break for Christmas, NKU will play three more games in an eight-day span. The second stretch of games starts at Northwestern on Dec. 27, continues at Youngstown State on New Yearís Eve and wraps up on Jan. 3 with Toledo at home.
Scouting Northwestern
Northwestern has won three of its last four games and enters at 8-4 overall. The Wildcats are averaging 65.0 points, while allowing 60.2 points per game. Three players average double-figures for Northwestern, paced by Alex Olah's 11.8 points per game. Bryant McIntosh and Tre Camps are averaging 11.0 and 10.5 points per game, respecitvely.
Last Time Out: Idaho
In the return game of a home-and-home series, Northern Kentucky placed four players in double-figures en route to an 81-68 win over Idaho to complete the season sweep. NKU shot 43.8 percent and limited Idaho to just 34.8 percent. The Norse bench came through once again, amassing a 43-7 advantage in bench points.
Reigning A-Sun Newcomer and Mid-Major Madness Freshman of the Week Tayler Persons led the charge with 23 points. A career-high 17 points from Anthony Monaco was also joined by Tyler Whiteís 12 points and Jalen Billupsí 10. Daniel Camps matched his career-high in rebounds with 11.
Big Time Schedule
Not only did NKU open at Big Ten powers No. 3/4 Wisconsin and No. 21/21 Nebraska, but the Norse also hosted a third Power 5-conference member in No. 16/17 West Virginia. NKU will play a fourth Power 5 school when it heads to the Windy City for a meeting with Northwestern on Dec. 27, wrapping up competition against members of the Power 5 conferences.
