HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Following a three-game road trip, the Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team returns to its home court BB&T Arena for three of the next four contests. The Norse welcome Norfolk State at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 13 in the first of those games.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (1-5 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Norfolk State University Spartans (4-4 Overall, 0-0 MEAC)
Sunday, Dec. 13 - 7 p.m. (ET)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 with Brady Laber (Play-by-Play) and Brad Redford (Analysis)
Radio: ESPN1530 (1530 AM) with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Analysis)
 
Fast Break Points (140 Characters or Less)
• NKU opens a stretch where it will play three of its next four games @theBBTArena.
• Against EIU, F Jalen Billups and G Lavone Holland II recorded double-doubles, the first Norse to do so in the same game since 09-10.
• NKU outrebounded EIU, 45-34, including a 14-5 edge in offensive rebounds.
• According to kenpom.com, NKU has played the 25th toughest schedule with games vs. XU (10th) & West Virginia (22nd).
• Nine Norse are averaging 10 or more minutes per game this season, led by Holland at 32.7.
• Billups led the nation w/ 69.6% shooting last year, and is currently 15th nationally at 65.3% (32-49) this year.
• Billups ranks among NKU's all-time leaders in FG % (2nd, .636), blocks (5th, 106) & blocks per game (11th, 1.1).
• Billups and G Tyler White are climbing NKU's all-time scoring list. Billups ranks 31st w/ 902 points & White is No. 40 (822).
• With 17 points at EIU, Billups eclipsed 900 career points. He now has his sights set on 1,000 and is 98 points away.
• White led NKU in made 3's (66) in '14-15 & is t-11th in NKU's record books with 150-career treys.
• In the last five games, Holland has averaged 12.4 points, 9.2 rebounds & 5.8 assists per game.
• Holland is averaging a team-best 8.3 rebounds per game.
• Holland has reached double-figures in all six contests this season, the only Norse to do so.
• If Holland continues at 5.2 assists per game he will record a top-10 single-season assist average (9th) at NKU.
• G Cole Murray has had the hot hand from long range, shooting 44% (11-of-25) from behind the arc this year.
 
Scouting Norfolk State
Norfolk State is 4-4 on the year and is riding a three-game win-streak that includes victories over Northern Arizona, Mercy College (DII) and Coppin State.
 
The Spartans are scoring at a 73.2 point-per-game clip with three players averaging double-figures. Jeff Short leads the trio at 18.1 points per game and D'Shon Taylor checks in at 15.3 and Charles Oliver at 13.1.  NSU converts 42.2 percent of its field-goal attempts. However, its Norfolk State's 3-point shooting that leads the way. The Spartans are ranked 14th in the country at 42.3 percent from long range. Zanyah Robinson is the team's facilitator, with 26 assists to just six turnovers on the year. Robinson ranks 13th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.33-to-1).
 
Series Stuff: Norfolk State
Northern Kentucky and Norfolk State will meet on the hardwood for the first time ever. The Spartans are one of nine new opponents for the Norse this season, including Cleveland State, Detroit, Green Bay, IU-Kokomo, Michigan, Milwaukee, UIC and Valparaiso.
 
Last Time Out: Eastern Illinois
It took an overtime period to decide the contest, but Northern Kentucky suffered a 79-73 setback at Eastern Illinois in its last outing on Dec. 5. Holland and Billups teamed up to record a pair of double-doubles for NKU, marking the first time the feat has been accomplished in nearly five years. Holland went for 17 points and 12 rebounds and Billups added 17 points with 10 boards. The Norse were active on the glass the entire game, winning the battle of the boards, 45-34. A 14-5 edge in offensive caroms led to NKU also outscoring EIU, 15-11, in second chance points. Cornell Johnston paced the Panthers with a game-high 24 points.