HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky heads to Nassau, Bahamas, for the 2017 Islands of the Bahamas Showcase, where it opens play against James Madison Friday evening at 5 p.m. ET.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (2-0 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
James Madison University Dukes (1-1 Overall, 0-0 Colonial)
Friday, Nov. 17 – 5:00 p.m. (ET)
Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium (2,500) in Nassau, Bahamas
TV: FloHoops.com ($) featuring NKU's radio broadcast
Radio: The Project (100.7/106.3 FM) with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Color)
Stats: Bahamas.Statbroadcast.com
 
Fast Break Points
• NKU opened the season with a pair of wins over 2017 NCAA Tournament-participant ETSU and local-foe Wilmington.
• The Norse head to Nassau, Bahamas for the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase, which features five 20-win teams that also competed in the postseason last year.
• Northern Kentucky opens with James Madison, a team it has never played before.
• Northern Kentucky's defense has pestered its two opponents, forcing 36 turnovers and limiting the teams to a paltry 18.6 percent shooting (8-for-43) from 3-point territory.
• NKU shares the ball, as the team has assisted on 68.3 percent (41-of-60) of its made baskets.
• NKU was picked second in the Horizon League preseason poll, garnering 10 first place votes.
• The Norse reached the 2017 NCAA Tournament, where they dropped a 79-70 decision as the No. 15 seed to No. 2 seed Kentucky.
• Last year was NKU's first season eligible for the DI NCAA Tourney. The Norse became just the seventh team all-time and only the second since 1970 to earn a berth in their first year eligible.
• After closing last season ranked No. 21 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll, Northern Kentucky ranked No. 11 in this year's preseason poll and held the spot through week one.
• The 2017-18 season opened with NKU ranked No. 127 in KenPom's ratings, a stark contrast from one season ago when the Norse opened the year at No. 277. Through games played Tuesday night, Northern Kentucky is ranked No. 115.
• 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).
• Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year and Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List honoree Drew McDonald opened the season with back-to-back double-doubles and has 18 for his career. He is averaging 20 ppg. and 10.5 rpg.
• G Lavone Holland II is a preseason All-Horizon League Second Team selection. He used a 10-for-10 showing at the charity stripe en route to 16 points and five assists versus ETSU and holds a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• F Carson Williams shot 60.2 percent (139-of-231) last year and is off to an even better start this year, converting 9-of-13 attempts for 69.2 percent.
• G Mason Faulkner and F Dantez Walton have joined Holland in sharing the wealth, dishing out eight and seven assists, respectively.
• F Jeff Garrett has been a menace on the boards so far. After pulling down seven in the season opener, he went for a 13-point, 15-rebound double-double versus Wilmington.
 
Islands of the Bahamas Showcase
The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase features some of the nation's top mid-major teams. NKU, Vermont and Iona all participated in the NCAA tournament in 2017, while Coastal Carolina was the CBI runner-up and Weber State played in the CIT. All five of those teams also won at least 20 games. The field also features Bradley, UTSA and Northern Kentucky's first-round opponent James Madison.
 
Last Time Out
McDonald and Garrett each registered double-doubles to fend off a plucky Wilmington (DIII) team, 93-65. Though NKU never trailed and held a double-digit lead for much of the game, Wilmington battled throughout. McDonald finished with 18 points and 10 boards, while Garrett added 13 points and career-high 15 caroms. Holland also reached double-figures with 10 points. The Norse continued their strong defensive efforts, forcing 16 turnovers and holding the Quakers to 25 percent (6-of-25) shooting from three.
 
Scouting James Madison
JMU is 1-1 on the season following a 69-53 loss at home to Old Dominion on Monday night. Guard Stuckey Mosley leads James Madison in scoring, averaging 18.0 ppg., while fellow guard Joey McLean is averaging 11.5 ppg. Mosely and Develle Phillips lead the team in rebounding at 5.0 rpg.
 
Series Stuff
Friday's meeting marks the first time the two schools will have met on the hardwood.