HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Following its runner-up showing in the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase, the Northern Kentucky men's basketball team heads south to the border of the Mississippi River for a meeting with the Memphis Tigers. Game time for the Saturday, Nov. 25, tip is set for 6 p.m. (ET).
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (4-1 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
University of Memphis Tigers (2-1 Overall, 0-0 Colonial)
Saturday, Nov. 25 – 6:00 p.m. (ET)/ 5:00 p.m. (CT)
FedEx Forum (18,119) in Memphis, Tenn.
TV: ESPN3 with Greg Gaston (Play-by-Play) and Jon Albright (Color)
Radio: ESPN1530 with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Color)
Stats: Live Stats
 
Fast Break Points
• The Norse slid to 4-1 on the season after falling to Vermont, 64-62, in the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase. NKU defeated James Madison and Iona en route to the championship match.
• Northern Kentucky has played three 2017 NCAA Tournament participants (East Tennessee State, Iona, Vermont) in its first five games, going 2-1 in those contests.
• NKU has assisted on 66.2 percent (92-of-139) of its made baskets (No. 31 according to KenPom). NKU is averaging 18.4 apg, but is allowing just 7.6 apg and a 28 percent assist rate by its opponents, a rate that is the second-best in the nation (KenPom).
• Northern Kentucky has forced 89 turnovers on the year, equating to 24.7 percent of opponent's possessions, the 30th-best mark in the country according to KenPom.com. By comparison, NKU only commits a miscue 17.2 percent of its possessions, ranking 82nd best.
• NKU also ranks 12th in 2-point field-goal percent (62.6 percent).
• 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 Thursday night, NKU sits at 109th, which is tops in the Horizon League.
• 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).
• G Lavone Holland II is averaging 15.0 points and 4.8 assists, which ranks 100th-best in the nation. He is shooting a career-best 88.9 percent (24-of-27) from the line. Last year he converted 65.9 percent (108-of-164) at the stripe.
• Holland and F Drew McDonald have reached double-figures in all five games. McDonald has also notched two double-doubles and is averaging team highs at both 15.2 ppg and 7.0 rpg.
• F Carson Williams shot 60.2 percent (139-of-231) last year and is off to an even better start this year, converting 26-of-40 attempts for 65.0 percent. Williams is third on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game.
• F Jordan Garnett matched his career-high with five assists in 37 minutes of action versus Iona. He is averaging 8.4 points per game, which is more than double his career average (4.0 ppg).
• F Jeff Garrett is a rebound machine, pulling down 31 on the season. He is averaging 5.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.
• F Jalen Tate (7.8 ppg), F Dantez Walton (6.6) and G Mason Faulkner are also contributing on the offensive end. Faulkner also has 13 assists.
 
Last Time Out
Northern Kentucky defeated James Madison 87-78 in the opening round of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase behind 24 points from Holland to lead five Norse scored in double figures. NKU never trailed in the semifinals versus Iona, but used a late push to pull ahead for the 85-72 win. In that game, Williams paced four double-figure scorers with 20 points behind 9-of-11 shooting.
 
In the championship match with Vermont, Northern Kentucky led for more than 27 minutes, but a short floater from the Catamounts with three seconds left sunk the Norse, 64-62. Holland led Northern Kentucky with 14 points and earned all-tournament status.
 
Scouting Memphis
Memphis enters Saturday's contest at 2-1 overall. The Tigers dropped the opening contest of the season to then-No. 25 Alabama and have staved off Little Rock and New Orleans at home. A trio of Tigers average double-figure scoring, led by Jeremiah Martin's 17.0 points per game. Kyvon Davenport adds 12.7 and Jimario Rivers 10.7. As a team, Memphis averages 67.7 points, while allowing foes to score at a 65.3 ppg clip. The Tigers also force opponents into turnovers on 25 percent of their possessions, but U of M commits a miscue on over 21 percent of its possessions.
 
Series Stuff
Saturday's meeting between Northern Kentucky and Memphis marks the first time the two schools will have met on the hardwood.