HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky will host Eastern Illinois in non-conference men's basketball action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The Norse have won four of their last five games and sport an identical record, 5-3, as the Panthers.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (5-3 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Eastern Illinois University Panthers (5-3 Overall, 0-0 OVC)
Wednesday, Dec. 7 - 7:00 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: 55KRC (550 AM) with Jim Kelch (play-by-play) and Steve Moeller (analysis)
 
Fast Break Points
• G Lavone Holland II scored 12 points in the final 3:29 in helping NKU grind out a 72-61 win at Norfolk State on Saturday.
• NKU moves to 5-3 on the season, putting the Norse two-games above .500, which is the most over the threshold NKU has been during the Division I era.
• Northern Kentucky has proved to be a tough out on the road so far this year, posting a 4-2 record away from BB&T Arena. NKU won just two road games last year and four in 2014-15.
• The Norse have established themselves as one of the top rebounding teams in the nation, ranking 23rd in rebounding margin at +8.5 and 31st in total rebounds per game (40.9).
• NKU's prowess on the boards has kept its opponents to an offensive rebounding percentage of 23.6 percent (19th in the nation according to KenPom.com), meaning Northern Kentucky has owned its defensive boards and kept opponents off the offensive glass.
• NKU also ranks 13th in the nation in offensive steal percentage. NKU's opponents steal the ball from the Norse on just 6.0 percent of Northern Kentucky's possessions.
• NKU has nine players who are setting foot on the collegiate basketball court for the first time this season. According to KenPom.com, the average experience for the Norse this year is 1.16 years, which is the 321st in the nation.
• F Drew McDonald was named Horizon League Co-Player of the Week after a 32-point, 11-rebound outburst at Morehead State and averages of 25 points and nine rebounds per game in two road wins last week.
• McDonald leads NKU at 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
• Holland has reached double-figures in five-straight games and is second on the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game. NKU is 4-1 in that five-game span.
• G Cole Murray has reached double-figures in three of the last four games for the Norse. After starting the year 3-of-13 (23.1%) from three in the first three games, he has converted 18-of-42 attempts (42.9%) in the last five.
• F Jordan Garnett continues to find ways to impact games. At NSU, Garnett hauled in five boards and dished three assists to go with his five points.
• G Mason Faulkner came off the bench and helped NKU in a big way against Norfolk State. The freshman guard corralled a career-best six rebounds and handed out three assists.