The Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team returns to BB&T Arena to open the home portion of its Horizon League schedule Thursday night versus Youngstown State. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m., as the contest is part of a doubleheader with the NKU women’s team.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (10-5 Overall, 1-1 Horizon League)
Youngstown State University Penguins (7-8 Overall, 1-1 Horizon League)
Thursday, Jan. 5 – 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 (analysis)
Radio: FOXSports1360 (1360 AM) with Jim Kelch (play-by-play) and Steve Moeller (analysis)
Fast Break Points
• Following a 1-1 trip to Detroit where the Norse closed with a 76-65 setback to Oakland, NKU returns to BB&T Arena for its Horizon League home opener against Youngstown State on Thursday.
• NKU and YSU split last season’s meetings, with each team holding serve at home. NKU’s 84-64 win on Jan. 14 provided the Norse with their first-ever Horizon League victory.
• Even though the season isn’t even at the halfway point, NKU has already surpassed last season’s win total (9).
• The Norse have established themselves as one of the top rebounding teams in the country, winning the rebounding battle in 13 of 15 games. They have only lost the rebound battle once and are averaging 40.5 rpg (28th in the nation).
• NKU’s prowess on the boards has kept its opponents to an offensive rebounding percentage of 26.3 percent (55th in the nation according to KenPom.com), while Northern Kentucky has impacted the game on its offensive glass at 35.1 percent (37th nationally).
• Northern Kentucky surged into the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll for the first time ever on Dec. 19 at No. 24. The team was ranked for two-straight weeks and is still receiving votes.
• F Drew McDonald recorded his fifth double-double of the season and 10th of his career with 13 points and 10 boards against Oakland.
• McDonald and G Lavone Holland II are tied for the team-lead in scoring (15.5 ppg). Holland leads the team in assists (3.7 apg), while McDonald paces the team in rebounding (7.7 rpg).
• With 14 points at Oakland, Holland has now reached double-figures in 11 of the last 12 games.
• F Carson Williams, a two-time Horizon League Freshman of the Week honoree, is averaging 14.8 ppg and 7.4 rpg over the last five games.
• Williams is fourth for NKU in scoring (11.1) and third in rebounding (6.0).
• F Jeff Garrett hauled in eight rebounds at both Detroit Mercy and Oakland. He has grabbed at least eight boards in a game six different times this year.
• G Mason Faulkner chipped in a career-high 10 points at Oakland, marking the second-straight game the freshman has established new career-highs in scoring.
Join the Uprising!
Bryan
Bryan McEldowney
Assistant Athletic Director
Communications and Media Services
Northern Kentucky University
