HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The college basketball regular season opens Friday, Nov. 11, around the country, and the Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team plays host to Earlham at 7 p.m., to kick off its season.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (1-0 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
University of Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0 Overall, 0-0 B1G)
Sunday, Nov. 13 - 6:00 p.m. (ET)/5:00 p.m. (CT)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: BTN Plus
Radio: 55KRC (550 AM) with Jim Kelch (play-by-play) and Steve Moeller (analysis)
 
Fast Break Points
• F Jeff Garrett was a stat-sheet stuffer against Earlham, going for 12 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block.
• The double-double is the first for Garrett, who was playing his first collegiate basketball game after redshirting the 2014-15 season at Alabama and sitting out last year due to NCAA transfer rules.
• F Carson Williams, Kentucky's reigning Mr. Basketball player, notched a game-high 15 points versus Earlham
• F Drew McDonald tallied 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting against Earlham.
• F Dantez Walton was Ohio's D-III Player of the Year. He led five Norse in double-figures against Wilmington with 17 points and added 11 versus Earlham.
• G Mason Faulkner was one of three finalists for Kentucky's Mr. Basketball award, joining Williams and Xavier's Quentin Goodin. He had seven points and four assists in the opener.
• G Cole Murray was one of the nation's top 3-point shooters a year ago, converting 45.3% (78-of-172) to finish No. 9 in the country.
• Last year, G Lavone Holland II was third on the team in scoring (10.7 ppg) and rebounds (4.7 rpg), but led NKU in assists (4.0 apg).
• NKU took care of Earlham College, 96-56, in the season-opener on Friday.
• NKU shot 64.4 percent (38-59) for the game, including 75% (21-28) in the second half.
• The Norse had more assists (23) than Earlham had made field goals (21).
• For the first time in the Division I era, NKU has a winning record.
• After a four-year reclassification process, NKU is eligible to compete for a berth in the NCAA tourney after receiving active status from the NCAA in August.
• NKU was picked to finish 7th in the Horizon League this season in the preseason poll.
• NKU exceeded last year's preseason poll, finishing eighth after being picked 10th.
• NKU returns three double-figure scorers from last season: Holland II (10.7 ppg), McDonald (10.5) & Murray (10.1).
•  The Norse have seven returning players and welcome eight new faces to the team.
• NKU's recruiting class earned praise as "one of the best mid-major classes in the country for the class of 2016" by Next Up Recruits.