HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky men's basketball faces Oakland in Horizon League action on New Year's Eve. Both the Norse and Golden Grizzlies have already recorded double-digit wins and claimed victories in their league openers. Game time at the Blacktop at the O'Rena in Rochester, Michigan, is set for 3 p.m.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (10-4 Overall, 1-0 Horizon League)
Oakland University Golden Grizzlies (11-3 Overall, 1-0 Horizon League)
Saturday, Dec. 31 - 3:00 p.m. (ET)
The Blacktop at the O'Rena (4,000) in Rochester, Mich.
TV: ESPN3 with Neal Ruh (play-by-play), Justin Rose (analysis), Joanna Tuttle (sideline), Cortney Scott (Huddle)
Radio: 55KRC (550 AM) with Jim Kelch (play-by-play) and Steve Moeller (analysis)
 
Fast Break Points
• NKU earned its 10th win of the season with an 81-70 victory at Detroit Mercy.
• Though only 14 games into the season, NKU has already surpassed last season's win total (9).
• NKU demolished Detroit Mercy on the boards, 44-31.
• In three regular-season games in the Motor City since joining the Horizon League, NKU is averaging 87.3 ppg and is 3-0 entering Saturday's contest at Oakland.
• The Norse have established themselves as one of the top rebounding teams in the country, winning the rebounding battle in 13 of 14 games, including each of the last eight games to earn a ranking of 14th in rebounding margin at +9.2 and 20th in total rebounds per game (41.07).
• NKU's prowess on the boards has kept its opponents to an offensive rebounding percentage of 24.9 percent (35th in the nation according to KenPom.com), while Northern Kentucky has impacted the game on its offensive glass at 35.5 percent (35th nationally).
• Northern Kentucky surged into the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll for the first time ever on Dec. 19 at No. 24. NKU is currently ranked No. 25.
• NKU has nine players who set foot on a collegiate basketball court for the first time this year. According to KenPom.com, the average experience for the Norse this year is 1.23 years, which is 310th.
• 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.
• G Cole Murray must really like Detroit Mercy's Calihan Hall. In NKU's two games at the Titans' home facility, he has averaged 23 ppg on the strength of 14-of-22 (64 percent) shooting from long range.
• Both Murray and G Lavone Holland II tallied 21 points in the game. It marks the fourth time this season in which NKU had two players score at least 20 points in the same contest.
• Murray has now reached double figures in seven of the last 10 games and is averaging 11.0 ppg on the year.
• Holland and F Drew McDonald are tied for the team-lead in scoring (15.6 ppg). Holland leads the team in assists (3.5 apg), while McDonald paces the team in rebounding (7.5 rpg).
• F Carson Williams, a two-time Horizon League Freshman of the Week honoree, is averaging 15.0 ppg and 8.3 rpg over the last four games.
• Williams is fourth on the team in scoring at (10.9) and second in rebounding (6.1).
• F Jeff Garrett hauled in eight rebounds at Detroit Mercy. That marks the fifth time this season he has grabbed at least eight boards in a game.
• G Mason Faulkner chipped in a career-high nine points at Detroit Mercy.