HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Playing for the second time in the nonconference portion of the schedule, Northern Kentucky and ETSU will face off on Wednesday, Dec. 6, in Johnson City, Tennessee, with the Norse looking for the season sweep of the Bucs. NKU won the season-opening tilt versus ETSU, 81-63, at BB&T Arena.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (6-2 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
East Tennessee State University (4-3 Overall, 0-0 SoCon)
Wednesday, Dec. 6 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Freedom Hall (6,000) in Johnson City, Tenn.
TV: ESPN3
Radio: The Project (100.7/106.3 FM) with Jim Kelch (Play-by-Play) and Steve Moeller (Color)
 
Fast Break Points
• NKU has won two games in a row to improve to 6-2 on the season, defeating Morehead State 86-49 on Dec. 2.
• Wednesday's matchup at ETSU is the sixth all-time between the two teams and second this season. Although ETSU leads the series 3-2, NKU won the first meeting this year, 81-63.
• NKU is averaging 18.9 assists per game, a mark that ranks 13th in the nation. It also only commits 13.0 turnovers an outing, which ranks 113th. Combining those two marks results in an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.45, the 22nd 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 10th-most turnovers per game in the nation (19.6) and allows teams to distribute just 8.9 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 92nd, which is tops in the Horizon League.
• The Norse are ranked No. 10 in the CollegeInsider.Com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll and No. 21 in the Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings.
• 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 became NKU's 26^th member of the 1,000-point club versus Morehead State. He leads NKU in scoring (15.0 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg).
• G Lavone Holland II has been doing what great point guards do - score when needed (14.4 ppg), set the table for his teammates (5.0 apg) and take care of the ball (2.0 turnovers per game). His 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 85th in the country.
• Five Norse are averaging at least two assists per game, Holland (5.0), G Mason Faulkner (2.6), F Jordan Garnett (2.1), F Dantez Walton (2.0) and McDonald (2.0).
• F Carson Williams is converting 67.3 percent of his field-goal attempts (37-of-55), a mark that ranks 15th 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 9.0 points per game, which is more than double his career average (4.2 ppg).
• F Jeff Garrett is a rebound machine, pulling down 50 on the season. He is averaging 6.4 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.
 
Last Time Out
Shortly before the end of the first half, Holland II fumbled the ball while dribbling down the left side. He chased down the ball and, while falling out-of-bounds in the corner lofted a shot up and over the backboard that found the bottom of the net. That basket pushed NKU ahead by 10 and the Norse never looked back. McDonald opened the second half in dominant fashion, scoring 11 quick points and joining NKU's 1,000-point club with just over 18 minutes to play. NKU went on to an 86-59 win.
 
McDonald was one of five Norse in double figures, tallying a game-high 22 and leading Northern Kentucky to its sixth win of the season, all of which have seen the team score above the 80-point threshold. As good as the offense was (1.25 points per possession), the defense was better. MSU only mustered 28 and 21 points in the two halves. The second half saw the Eagles convert just 28 percent (8-of-25) of their shots. Morehead State committed 21 turnovers and scored 0.71 points per possession.
 
Scouting ETSU
ETSU is 4-3 on the season, but comes into Wednesday's meeting having won two games in a row, topping Fort Wayne and Fordham in those outings. The Buccaneers average 73 points per game and surrender 71.4. Desonta Bradford paces a quartet of Bucs averaging double figures in scoring, checking in at 13.0 ppg. He is also the team's leading rebounder (6.1 rpg) and tablesetter (3.7 apg).
 
Series Stuff
The former conference mates from the Atlantic Sun have met five previous times on the hardwood, including this year's lid lifter at BB&T Arena. ETSU holds a 3-2 advantage, but NKU claimed the aforementioned season opener, 81-63.
 
ETSU took an early 6-4 lead before NKU rattled off eight-straight to grab the lead for good. However, it was Northern Kentucky's 19-2 run over a 5:54 stretch spanning hal time that put the game firmly in the Norse's control. McDonald went for 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Holland chimed in with 16 points, behind 10-of-10 shooting at the charity stripe, and five assists. Williams converted 7-of-9 attempts en route to 15 points. Northern Kentucky's defense was the star of the show. ETSU was hounded into 20 turnovers and connected on just 2-of-18 (11 percent) 3-point attempts. NKU racked up 17 assists and nine steals, while committing 14 turnovers.