HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – With two games left in the regular-season, the Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team is seeking its 20^th win of the season. Horizon League-foe UIC provides the first opportunity to reach the plateau when the Flames come to BB&T Arena for a 7:30 p.m. (ET) tip. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Norse women's team which faces Milwaukee at 5 p.m. (ET).
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (19-10 Overall, 10-6 Horizon League)
University of Illinois at Chicago "UIC" Flames (14-15 Overall, 7-9 Horizon League)
Friday, Feb. 24 - 7:30 p.m. (ET)
BB&T Arena (9,400) in Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 with Brady Laber (play-by-play) and Brad Redford (analysis)
Radio: ESPN1530 (1530 AM) with Jim Kelch (play-by-play) and Steve Moeller (analysis)
 
Fast Break Points
• NKU secured its second victory over Horizon League rival Wright State with an 83-76 decision on Tuesday.
• NKU overcame a 10-point second-half deficit, outscoring WSU 18-8 to tie the game and then a pair of late 9-0 and 7-0 runs to seal the game.
• The Norse have won seven of their last nine games, which includes a 4-0 mark at BB&T Arena.
• NKU sits at 19-10 on the season, and has established a new Division I-era record for wins, topping the 13 recorded in the 2014-15 season as a member of the Atlantic Sun.
• NKU's 19 wins are 10 more than it had last year, a turnaround that is the third best in the nation based on wins alone. According to the NCAA, which also considers losses, NKU is tied-fourth at plus-10.5.
• The Norse close the season with a stretch of five games in 11 days. They are 2-1, with wins over Cleveland State and Wright State.
• NKU welcomes UIC to BB&T Arena in the second meeting of the year between the two teams. NKU won the first matchup in Chicago, 79-62.
• The 70-point plateau is key for NKU this year. Northern Kentucky is 16-4 when scoring at least 70 points and 13-2 when holding opponents to 70 or fewer points.
• NKU was picked to finish 7th in the Horizon League in the preseason poll. With three games left it is tied-fourth with Wright State at 10-6, just one game behind Green Bay team in third.
• F Cole Murray exploded for 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 5-for-10 from three against Wright State. He is tied-third on the team in scoring at 10.6 ppg, ranks No. 14 nationally with 89 made threes this year and No. 44 in 3-point shooting percent, converting 41 percent. He has made a triple in 28-of-29 games.
• F Drew McDonald poured in 18 points and grabbed six boards versus Wright State. He has a team-high 10 double-doubles on the year, while also leading NKU in scoring (15.9) and rebounding (7.6).
• F Carson Williams collected his third Horizon League Freshman of the Week honor after securing his fourth double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 boards against YSU and career-high 22 points at Cleveland State. He is tied-third on the team in scoring (10.6) and second in rebounding (6.0).
• G Lavone Holland II tallied 19 points, six assists, five rebounds and had a late block to help seal the win over Wright State. He is second on the team at 13.6 ppg, but has a team-high 110 assists.
•  F Jordan Garnett hit a three late in the shot clock in the second half for the second-straight game with WSU. He added eight points in the win.
• G Mason Faulkner is averaging 7.6 ppg on the year, including 10.9 ppg in Horizon League play.
 
Scouting UIC
UIC is 14-15 overall and 7-9 in league play. However, after starting the Horizon League slate at 4-2, the Flames have gone just 3-7 since with their only wins coming against Milwaukee, Youngstown State and Detroit Mercy. Tai Odiase averages a team-high 11.4 ppg and ranks third in the nation in blocked shots, swatting 88 attempts this year. Tarkus Ferguson averages 10.9 ppg, while Dominique Matthews and Marcus Ottey contributed 10.3 ppg and 10.1 ppg, respectively.
 
All-Time Series
With its 79-62 road win earlier this year, Northern Kentucky improved to 2-1 all-time against the Flames. Five Norse reached double-figures in the first meeting, led by Faulkner's 19 points. Holland added 16 points and is averaging 12.7 ppg in three contests versus UIC. Murray contributed 12 points, while both McDonald and Dantez Walton chipped in 10. Murray is 14-of-23 from 3-point range in three career games versus the Flames and averages 15.3 ppg. McDonald is close behind at 14.3 ppg.
 
Last Time Out
An 18-8 run midway through the second half helped Northern Kentucky erase a 10-point second-half deficit against Wright State on Tuesday night. NKU later used nine-straight points to take the lead and then scored the final seven points of the game after WSU tied the contest at 76 on its way to an 83-76 victory. Murray scored 23 points to lead a trio of Norse that scored at least 18 in the game. Holland added 19 and McDonald contributed 18. The Norse shot nearly 54 percent for the game, while holding the Raiders to just 41 percent. NKU also won the battle of the boards, 34-30, for the 23rd time this year.