HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team concludes the nonconference portion of its schedule with a Thursday night tilt against Northern Illinois. This marks the second meeting of the season between the two schools, with the Norse winning the first matchup in a double-overtime thriller, 88-85. Tip for Thursday's return contest is set for 7 p.m.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (9-3 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Northern Illinois University Huskies (6-4 Overall, 0-0 MAC)
Thursday, Dec. 20 – 7 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN+ with Brady Laber (PxP) and Brad Redford (Color)
Radio: ESPN1530 with Jim Kelch (PxP) and Steve Moeller (Color)
Stats: Live Stats
 
Tickets and Promotions
Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster. NKU students who show their student ID will receive a free ticket for a guest in addition to their regular free admission. The Mason Firecrackers will perform at halftime.
 
Fast Break Points
• NKU matches its best start to the season through 12 games in the Division I era at 9-3. The 2016-17 team also went 9-3 through its first 12 contests. A win on Thursday solidifies NKU's best nonconference record in the Division I era.
• The Norse play Northern Illinois for the second time this season. NKU earned an 88-85 double-overtime victory in DeKalb, Illinois, earlier this year, which is the only meeting ever between the schools.
• NKU is 7-0 at BB&T Arena this season and is riding a 15-game nonconference home winning streak.
• NKU is averaging 16.4 assists per game, No. 46 in the nation. The Norse also rank 17th in the country in total assists with 197.
• NKU is letting it fly from 3-point range, ranking 20th in attempts (315) and 22nd in made treys (113). The Norse are making 9.4 threes per game, which are the 49th-most nationally.
• NKU's 85 total steals are the 56th-most in the NCAA.
• Foes are converting just 37.8 percent of their shots versus NKU, 17th-best nationally. The Norse are also 57th in scoring defense, allowing teams to post just 65.4 points per game.
• In the team's wins this season, the Norse are averaging 84.1 points per game and giving up just 62.8 points per contest.
• The Norse were picked to finish second in the Horizon League preseason poll, receiving 356 points and 10 first-place votes. Wright State was picked first with 377 points.
• NKU is coming off a 22-10 campaign in which it won the Horizon League regular-season title and played in the NIT.
• Since the start of the 2016-17 season, NKU is a combined 55-24, has won the Horizon League regular season (2018) and league tourney (2017), and has played in the NCAA Tournament (2017) and NIT (2018).
• F Drew McDonald leads five Norse averaging double digits on the year at 18.6 points. He also leads NKU at 9.3 rebounds per game (37th in nation). His five double-doubles rank 18th nationally and he is one of just 15 players - one of just three forwards - to register a triple-double so far this year.
• McDonald is now NKU's all-time leading rebounder with 874 rebounds. He broke LaRon Moore's record of 859 with six rebounds in the game against Eastern Kentucky.
• McDonald is one of five active players in Division I basketball with at least 1,600 career points (1,654) and 800 career boards (874).
• G Tyler Sharpe is second on the team in scoring, pouring in 14.2 points per game. However, over the last eight games the junior guard has upped that averaged to 16.0 ppg on the strength of 48.3 percent (28-of-58) shooting from 3-point range.
• Sharpe has made at least three 3-pointers in each of the last eight games.
• F Dantez Walton is averaging 11.8 points and 6.1 rebounds. He's shooting 47.7 percent (52-of-109) from the floor and 38.8 percent (26-of-67) from three.
• G Zaynah Robinson is running the show for the Norse and has a team-best 3.5 assists per game. He is averaging 10.0 points per game.
• Robinson is averaging 14.2 ppg over the last five outings, shooting 60 percent (30-of-50) from the floor and 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from three.
• G Jalen Tate is averaging 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this year. He's registered 28 assists to only 12 turnovers and is making 51.6 percent (32-of-62) of his shots.
 
Last Time Out
With the game tied at 55 with 5:31 left, NKU scored the next seven points over a span of 1:11 to take the final lead of the game and secured the victory by making 6-of-6 free throws in the final minute. McDonald, who finished with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds, started the run with a lay-in, while Robinson scored the last five points of the spurt. Robinson finished with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep. Tyler Sharpe provided a huge first-half spark and finished with 15 points and career-high seven boards. Walton chipped in 10 points and eight caroms. The Norse held their eighth opponent below 40 percent shooting as the RedHawks converted 39.2 percent. Meanwhile, NKU made 45.9 percent. Northern Kentucky also won the rebound battle, 35-30, and outscored Miami 42-24 in the paint.
 
Scouting Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois is 6-4 overall and 3-3 in its last six games. The Huskies pour in 81.7 points per game and surrender just 74.2. NIU leads the nation in field-goal percentage, converting an efficient 52.6 percent from the field. Eugene German averages a blistering 21.4 points per outing, while pulling down 4.1 rebounds per game. Levi Bradley averages 17.4 ppg and Dante Thorpe checks in at 11.3.
 
Series Stuff
NKU and NIU are meeting for the second time this season, which also happen to be the only two meetings between the programs. Northern Kentucky won a double-overtime thriller 88-85 in DeKalb, Ill. earlier this season. Robinson scored all 13 of his points in the two overtime periods as Northern Kentucky outlasted Northern Illinois for the road win. McDonald put forth a Herculean effort with 28 points and 14 rebounds, while Walton and Sharpe knocked down several timely threes en route to 16 points each. Tate dished out a career-high seven assists. NKU did its damage from 3-point range, outshooting NIU 42.4 percent to 26.1.