he Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team is set to host Horizon League foe Cleveland State on Monday, Jan. 15, as part of a double-header with the Norse women’s team, which also faces Cleveland State. The women’s game is slated for 5:00 p.m., with tip for the men’s game scheduled to follow at 7:30.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (11-6 Overall, 4-1 Horizon League)
Cleveland State University Vikings (4-14 Overall, 1-4 Horizon League)
Monday, Jan. 15 – 7:30 p.m. (ET)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 with Brady Laber (Play-by-Play) and Brad Redford (Color)
Radio: ESPN1530 (1530 AM) with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Color)
Stats: Live Stats
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Fast Break Points
• NKU dropped its first Horizon League contest of the year with an 84-81 setback to league-leading Wright State.
• The Norse are now second in the league standings with a 4-1 mark.
• Dating back to the start of the 2016-17 season, and including the #HLMBB Championship, NKU has won 19 of its last 26 games (.731) against League opponents.
• The Norse are 2-2 all-time versus Cleveland State after winning both matchups last season.
• Northern Kentucky is 15th in the nation in 2-point field goal percent (58.2).
• NKU is averaging 16.8 assists per game, a mark that ranks 38th in the nation. It also only commits 12.0 turnovers an outing, which ranks 61st nationally. Combining those two marks results in an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.40, the 26th best in the country.
• NKU forces the 38th-most turnovers per game in the nation (16.1) and allows teams to distribute just 10.8 assists per game.
• NKU is 23rd in the country in steals (8.4 spg) and has registered double-digit steals five times on the year, including three times in the last four games.
• NKU’s 3-point field goal defense ranks 6th in the nation at 28.9 percent.
• Through games played Jan. 12, NKU sits 69th on KenPom.com, which is tops in the Horizon League. In a recent column on TheAthletic.com, Ken Pomeroy marked NKU’s odds at 72 percent to win the Horizon League. Oakland was second with a 35 percent chance.
• The Norse are 24th in the CollegeInsider.Com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll and receiving votes in the Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings.
• NKU is one of 16 teams in the country to return at least 70 percent of its production in points (77), rebounds (84) and assists (84).
• F Carson Williams is converting 65.8 percent of his field-goal attempts (96-of-146), a mark that ranks 10th in the country. He is averaging 14.3 ppg.
• F Drew McDonald, the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year, leads NKU in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg) and has seven double-doubles, 32nd most in the nation.
• G Lavone Holland II is the consummate point guard – scores when needed (13.7 ppg), sets the table for his teammates (5.0 apg) and takes care of the ball (1.9 turnovers per game). His 2.58 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 55th in the country.
• G Tyler Sharpe came off the bench to spark the Norse with 10 points and three steals against Wright State.
Last Time Out
Holland poured in 22 points to lead four Norse in double-figures, but visiting Wright State found a way to claim an 84-81 win at BB&T Arena. Grant Benzinger tallied 31 points for the visitors, which used an 18-6 run midway through the second half to grab a seven-point lead that NKU could not overcome.
McDonald registered his fifth double-double in the last seven games, posting 18 points and 10 boards. Williams chipped in 13 points and three steals, while Sharpe provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and three swipes.
Scouting Cleveland State
The Vikings enter Monday night at 4-14 overall and 1-4 in Horizon League action. CSU’s lone league win came against Green Bay, while its losses came at the hands of Youngstown State, Milwaukee, Detroit Mercy and Oakland. Kenny Carpenter paces the offense at 12.9 ppg. Tyree Appleby sets the table (3.7 apg) and scores at a double-figure clip (11.5 ppg). Bobby Word also averages double digits (11.6 ppg). Cleveland State averages 69.1 points a game, but surrenders 75.4 ppg. Offensively, the Vikings fire up the three ball, ranking 27th in the country in attempts (471) and averaging 8.4 made triples per game (83rd).
Series Stuff
The all-time series is tied at two apiece. CSU claimed both games in NKU’s inaugural Horizon League season, but the Norse swept both games last year to even the series. McDonald averaged 25 points and 11.5 rebounds in the two games last year, which was bolstered by a 37-point, 10-rebound showing at BB&T Arena. Williams chipped in 15.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg.
#TakeNotice
Bryan
Bryan McEldowney
Assistant Athletic Director
Communications and Media Services
Northern Kentucky University
