As spring approaches, NKU basketball’s second season in Division I is coming to a close.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s team came into its second season projected to finish fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Currently, they sit at eighth in the conference after a late season rut, failing to get a win in their last eight games.

The team gained national attention throughout the season however, as they played against some nationally ranked teams, such as Kentucky, North Carolina and Purdue, and appeared in a nationally televised game against UNC.

Although, the Norse currently has a record of 8-20 overall and 4-12 in the conference, it had six games in which it fell by only five points or less.

Leading the team in scoring this season has been junior guard Jordan Jackson with a total of 358 points, averaging 13.8 a game, sophomore guard Tyler White with 271 points, averaging 10.4 a game and sophomore forward/center Jalen Billups with 255 points, averaging 9.1 a game.

Jalen Billups was also able to get the Norse national attention this season, as a dunk of his against North Carolina was featured on SportsCenter’s top ten plays.

The Norse has two games left this season, both of which will be home games in The Bank of Kentucky Center. NKU will host Stetson on Feb. 27 and Florida Gulf Coast March 1. The game against FCGU is also NKU’s Homecoming game.

Women’s Basketball

The women’s were able to build momentum early on in the season, which has stayed with the team until now. The team had an overall 15-13 record in the 2012-2013 season, and have matched that this season as they currently are 15-10 overall and 11-3 in the conference.

Team leaders thus far are junior forward Melody Doss with a total of 372 points, averaging 14.9 a game, senior guard Kayla Thacker with 304 points, averaging 12.7 a game and sophomore guard Christine Roush with 229 points, averaging 9.2 a game. Doss and Thacker have also been awarded Atlantic Sun player of the week honors this season, as well.

The Norse have four games left this season. They take on Stetson Feb. 27, and FGCU March 1, and then will finish out the season in the BOKC as they host USC Upstate March 6 and East Tennessee State, March 8.