Sat., Feb. 8 - Highland Heights, Ky. - 7 p.m.
The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)
USC Upstate (13-11, 6-5) at Northern Kentucky (8-16, 4-8)
NKU Radio: WQRT 1160 AM
•Jim Kelch (play-by-play) & Steve Moeller (color)
Series Record: USCU leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: USCU 73, NKU 64 (1-9-14)
NKU PLAYS HOST TO USC UPSTATE ON SATURDAY
Norse look to snap four-game losing streak
NORSE NOTES (FIVE STARTERS & ONE)
1• NKU is 8-16 overall after dropping a 64-50 decision against East Tennessee State on Thursday. The Norse are 4-8 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
2• Rashawn Rembert and Jalen Riley combined for 36 points to lead East Tennessee State. Rembert, who scored a game-high 20 points, buried four 3-pointers during a 20-5 run in the second half.
3• NKU's
Jalen Billups finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds against East Tennessee State.
4•
Dean Danos added 10 points for the Norse, who shot 26.9 percent from the field in the second half.
5• NKU is 64-16 all-time in The Bank of Kentucky Center.
+1• NKU is 1-2 all-time against USC Upstate.
NKU MEETS USCU: Northern Kentucky plays host to USC Upstate at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Norse are 8-16 overall, 4-8 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
USC Upstate is 13-11 overall, 6-5 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Spartans hold a 2-1 lead in the all-time series against the Norse, including a 73-64 win earlier this season in Spartanburg, S.C.
NKU/ETSU RECAP: Rashawn Rembert and Jalen Riley combined for 36 points to lead East Tennessee State to a come-from-behind 64-50 win over NKU on Thursday night.
Rembert, who scored a game-high 20 points, buried six 3-pointers and added four assists. He drained four 3-pointers during a 20-5 run in the second half that turned a 40-31 deficit into a 51-45 lead.
Riley added 16 points as the Buccaneers shot 50 percent from the field in the second half and outscored NKU 40-17 after intermission.
After East Tennessee State buried five consecutive 3-pointers to take a 20-12 advantage in the first half, NKU ended the first half with a 21-4 run to build a 33-24 lead at the break.
Jalen Billups keyed the spurt with eight points, and
Dean Danos scored seven.
Billups slammed down a dunk with 10:45 left to give the Norse a 40-31 edge, but East Tennessee State began using full-court pressure that ignited the game-changing 20-5 run.
Billups finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for NKU. Danos added 10 points for the Norse, who shot 26.9 percent from the field in the second half and were 5-for-27 from 3-point range.
AT HOME: NKU is now 6-5 at home this season. The Norse are 64-16 all-time in The Bank of Kentucky Center, which opened in 2008.
ON THURSDAY: NKU is now 0-4 when playing on Thursday this season. The Norse are 4-5 when playing on Saturday, including 2-1 at home with wins over Jacksonville and Kennesaw State.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST USC UPSTATE: Earlier this season on Jan. 9, Ricardo Glenn and Torrey Craig each recorded double-doubles to lead USC Upstate to a 73-64 victory over NKU in Spartanburg, S.C.
Glenn finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Craig added 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. USC Upstate shot 53.1 percent from the field and used a decisive 17-5 run in the second half to turn a 41-39 deficit into a 56-46 lead when Glenn converted a basket inside.
The Spartans placed five players in double figures and won the battle of the boards by a 38-25 count. USC Upstate's Fred Miller and Ty Greene each netted 13 points, while teammate Jodd Maxey scored 11.
Tyler White poured in 17 points for NKU, which was held to 26.9 percent shooting from the field in the second half and finished at 38.9 percent for the game.
Jordan Jackson added 15 points and five rebounds for the Norse.
Daniel Camps added eight points off the bench for Northern Kentucky, which was outscored 41-22 in the paint.
Todd Johnson finished with seven points, four assists and two steals.
Jack Flournoy and
Jalen Billups each scored six points for the Norse, who limited USC Upstate to 2-for-11 shooting from 3-point range.
SATURDAY'S PROMOTIONS:
Coaches vs. Cancer - Presented by the American Cancer Society
(Donations will be accepted on behalf of ACS. Please help NKU Athletics reach our goal of raising $4,000 for ACS)
- Kids' Club Suite Night
- Most Valuable Kids Night
- NKU Jazz Ensemble at Halftime
- Shoot Around Saturday
