Box Score

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Despite five Norse scoring in double-figures, Northern Kentucky dropped a 78-74 decision to Youngstown State on New Year's Eve. Chad Jackson narrowly missed a double-double with a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds, while Jalen Billups reached a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.
 
"I think we let one slip right through our fingers," said head coach Dave Bezold. "We put ourselves in a bind with poor defensive rotations on a few possessions in the second half and didn't shoot well from the free-throw line. We'll have to get right back at it though with a really good Toledo team coming to The Bank of Kentucky Center on Saturday."
 
Youngstown State opened the second half on a 12-4 run over the first five minutes to take a seven-point lead (52-45).  The Norse twice battled back within three points. The first came with 5:07 left on consecutive threes from Deontae Cole. Back-to-back baskets by Tayler Persons and Jalen Billups with 2:15 remaining brought the Norse within three again.
 
A basket by YSU's Bobby Hain, which pushed the Penguins' advantage back to five, was followed by an NKU turnover when Jackson tried to find a cutting teammate with a pass that was intercepted by Marcus Keene.
 
The Penguins sealed the game going 4-of-6 at the free-throw line in the final minute.
 
Jackson was an efficient 7-for-9 from the floor and added three assists and two steals. Billups connected on 6-of-8 shots in securing NKU's first double-double since he had 12 points and 12 rebounds against East Tennessee State on Feb. 6, 2014.
 
Tayler Persons added 15 points, while both Cole and Tyler White chipped in 12.
 
The Norse finished the game 47.6 percent from the floor, but shot just 31 percent (9-of-29) from three and a costly 5-of-13 from the charity stripe.
 
YSU made 56 percent (28-of-50) of its attempts, including 6-of-11 from deep. The Penguins also went to the line 30 times, making 16 to shoot 53.3 percent.
 
White scored nine points, all from long range, in the opening frame to help NKU to a 41-40 halftime advantage. The Norse shot an incredible 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the floor, which included 11-of-15 inside the 3-point line. Youngstown connected on 53.6 percent (15-of-28) of its shots. Billups chipped in eight points and five boards, while Chad Jackson added seven points and five rebounds.
 
Hain dropped in 22 points and secured 14 rebounds for Youngstown State. Keene scored 11 points, and both Shawn Amiker and Osandai Vaughn added 10.
 
NKU will wrap up its nonconference schedule at home on Saturday, Jan. 3, against Toledo. The contest is part of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team, which is hosting Wright State at 1 p.m. NKU and Toledo will tip at 4 p.m.