HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Local foe Morehead State serves as the next challenge on the docket for the Northern Kentucky men's basketball team, with the two teams set to take to the court at BB&T Arena at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (5-2 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Morehead State University Eagles (2-5 Overall, 0-0 OVC)
Saturday, Dec. 2 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: CW Cincinnati or ESPN3 (Outside of Cincinnati Market) with Brady Laber (Play-by-Play) and Brad Redford (Color)
Radio: FOXSports1360 with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Color)
Stats: Live Stats
Tickets: Ticketmaster
 
How to Watch
The CW Cincinnati broadcasts on channel 12.2 and, with the use of an antenna, can be viewed by every home in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area. The CW Cincinnati is available on Spectrum Cable (channel 20 in OH / 25 in KY), Cincinnati Bell Fi-Optics (17) and DirecTV (25).
 
Outside the Cincinnati market, the game will be available on ESPN3.
 
Fast Break Points
• Following two-straight losses, NKU rebounded to post the program's largest margin of victory ever (79) in a 112-33 win over Berea. Six players reached double figures and 11 played at least 14 minutes.
• Saturday's matchup with Morehead State is the 10th all-time between the two programs. This is also the fifth-straight season the two teams have met on the hardwood, with the road team winning each of the previous four.
• NKU is averaging 19.1 assists per game, a mark that ranks 16th in the nation. It also only commits 12.6 turnovers an outing, which ranks 97th. Combining those two marks results in an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.52, the 15th-best in the country.
• Not only are the Norse efficient offensively in those two areas, they are equally as impressive defensively in them. NKU forces the 12th-most turnovers per game in the nation (19.4) and allows teams to commit just 9.0 assists per game.
• 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 Monday night, NKU sits at 110th, 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).
• Four Norse are averaging double figures this year, G Lavone Holland II (14.1 ppg), F Drew McDonald (14.0), F Carson Williams (13.3) and F Jordan Garnett (10.1).
• Four players are also averaging at least two assists per game, Holland (5.1), G Mason Faulkner (2.9), Garnett (2.1) and F Dantez Walton (2.0).
• Holland has been doing what great point guards do - scoring when needed (14.1 ppg), setting the table for his teammates (5.1 apg) and taking care of the ball (1.7 turnovers per game). His 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 54th in the country.
• McDonald has reached double figures in all seven games, while also posting two double-doubles and averaging a team-high 7.0 rpg.
• McDonald is just 15 points away from becoming NKU's 26^th member of the 1,000-point club.
• Williams is converting 67.3 percent of his field-goal attempts (37-of-55), a mark that ranks 15^th in the country.
• Garnett has twice scored a career-high 15 points this season, versus James Madison and at Memphis, and is averaging a career-best 10.1 points per game, which is more than double his career average (4.3 ppg).
• F Jeff Garrett is a rebound machine, pulling down 43 on the season. He is averaging 5.9 points and 6.1 rebounds a game.
 
Last Time Out
Northern Kentucky posted the most dominant victory in the 47-year (including this season) history of the program with a 112-33 victory over Berea on Wednesday night. The 79-point margin topped the previous high of 66 set in a 124-58 win over IU-East on Dec. 19, 2007.
 
Eleven Norse played at least 14 minutes in the game with 12 players scoring and six reaching double-figures. Williams led the way with 18 points, while Garrett had a team-best eight boards and Faulkner distributed seven assists.
 
Scouting Morehead State
Local foe Morehead State enters with a 2-5 mark thanks to victories over Marshall and Alice Lloyd College (Ky.). The Eagles average 72.9 ppg, but allow opponents to post 80.3 ppg, with four of their six Division I opponents reaching the 80-point plateau. Jordan Walker leads the way offensively at 12.3 ppg, while Djimon Henson chips in 11.9 ppg.
 
Series Stuff
This marks the 10th meeting all-time, including fifth-straight seasons, the two teams have met on the hardwood. MSU holds the upper hand at 7-2 in the series, but NKU has won 2 of the last four. In those last four, the road team has won each time.