HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky men's basketball plays host to fellow Horizon League foe UIC on Saturday, Dec. 30, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) on The CW Cincinnati.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (8-5 Overall, 1-0 Horizon League)
University of Illinois-Chicago "UIC" Flames (5-9 Overall, 0-1 Horizon League)
Saturday, Dec. 30 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: CW Cincinnati or ESPN3 (Blacked out in Cincinnati Market) with Brady Laber (Play-by-Play) and Brad Redford (Color)
Radio: ESPN1530 (1530 AM) with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Color)
Stats: Live Stats
Tickets: Ticketmaster
 
Fast Break Points
• A 19-0 run by the Norse near the end of the first half put them in control, as NKU went on to win its Horizon League opener 77-59 against IUPUI.
• NKU shot 67 percent (18-of-27) in the second half, marking the fifth half this season the Norse converted more than 60 percent of their shots.
• NKU hosts UIC on Saturday. The Norse are 3-1 all-time against the Flames.
• NKU was picked to finish second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
• Northern Kentucky is 3rd in the nation in 2-point field goal percent (61.5).
• NKU is averaging 17.9 assists per game, a mark that ranks 23rd in the nation. It also only commits 12.4 turnovers an outing, which ranks 83rd nationally. Combining those two marks results in an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.45, the 25th best in the country.
• NKU forces the 42nd-most turnovers per game in the nation (16.5) and allows teams to distribute just 10.5 assists per game.
• NKU's 3-point field goal defense ranks 19th in the nation at 29.2 percent.
• Through games played on Dec. 28, NKU sits 77th on KenPom.com, which is tops in the Horizon League. In a recent column on TheAthletic.com, Ken Pomeroy marked NKU's odds at 72 percent to win the Horizon League. Oakland was second with a 35 percent chance.
• The Norse are receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.Com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll.
• 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).
• F Drew McDonald started 1-for-6 from the floor against IUPUI. He then went off, connecting on 10-straight baskets and finished 11-for-16 en route to 27 points and 10 rebounds.
• The Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year leads NKU in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.8 rpg) and has five double-doubles.
• F Carson Williams is converting 69.4 percent of his field-goal attempts (73-of-106), a mark that ranks 6th in the country. He is also 4-of-7 from three this year and averaging 14.6 ppg.
• G Lavone Holland II is the consummate point guard - scores when needed (13.2 ppg), sets the table for his teammates (5.4 apg) and takes care of the ball (2.0 turnovers per game). His 2.69 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 46th in the country.
• F Dantez Walton made a big impact against IUPUI, recording seven points, six rebounds and a career-high three blocks.
 
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).
 
NBC Sports Chicago is also carrying the game. Outside the Cincinnati and Chicago markets, the game will be available on ESPN3.
 
Last Time Out
Northern Kentucky trailed 21-12 with 8:50 left in the first half. Then, the Norse flipped the script. IUPUI didn't score again until 3.7 second remained in the half and NKU had scored 19-straight points. Coming out of intermission, Northern Kentucky kept up the intensity and converted 67 percent (18-of-27) from the floor in the second half. The Norse finished off the Jaguars, 77-59.
 
McDonald was the catalyst, finishing with a season-high 27 points and 10 rebounds for his third-straight double-double. After starting the game 1-for-6, McDonald made 10-straight buckets to end the game. His last miss came with 11:45 left in the first. Holland set the table. Though he had just five points, the senior dished out eight assists with zero turnovers and added seven rebounds. Williams made 4-of-5 shots and added 11 points, while Walton chipped in seven points, six rebounds and a career-best three blocks.
 
Scouting UIC
UIC is just 5-9 on the season, but is coming off of a hard-fought 65-61 setback at Wright State. The Flames were picked third in the Horizon League preseason poll and are led by redshirt-sophomore Dikembe Dixson, who was a second-team all-league performer two years ago as a freshman and is currently averaging 14.1 ppg. Marcus Ottey (12.3) and Dominique Matthews (11.7) also average double figures, while Tai Odiase is one of the nation's leaders in blocks, checking in No. 15 at 3.0 bpg.
 
Series Stuff
NKU is 3-1 all-time against UIC, winning both games last season as well as the inaugural matchup between the two teams in the 2015-16 campaign. In last season's two games, McDonald averaged 18.5 points, while Holland (17.5) and Mason Faulkner (16.0) also posted double figures.