HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team announces a home-and-home series against local-foe Cincinnati, which has the Norse traveling to UC this season and the Bearcats returning to NKU in Nov. 2020. A road matchup with the Bearcats' American Athletic Conference-counterpart Central Florida completes Northern Kentucky's 2018-19 slate.
 
The Norse and Knights are set to meet Saturday, Nov. 24, at CFE Arena in Orlando. NKU makes the short 9-mile trek to UC's Fifth Third Arena for a 7 p.m. contest on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
 
Cincinnati is coming off a 31-5 regular season mark last season, which featured a 16-2 conference record en route to the regular-season title in the American. UC also staked claim to the American tournament title and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. UC's lineup features guard Jarron Cumberland, who averaged 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
 
UCF finished the 2017-18 campaign at 19-13 overall, including a 9-9 mark in the AAC. The Knights are led by redshirt senior BJ Taylor who averaged 15.9 points and 3.2 assists per game in an injury shortened season. Senior Tacko Fall, a 7-foot-6 center, averaged 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 16 games played.
 
Entering its third season with active Division I status, Northern Kentucky has already established itself as one of the most successful programs through the first two years of active membership. NKU is the only program in the country to have won both a Horizon League tournament and regular-season title, as well as participated in the NCAA Tournament and NIT in its first two seasons. Northern Kentucky has gone 45-21 during that time.
 
NKU's 31-game schedule features 17 home contests, including a four-team tournament and UMBC, which captivated the nation last March when it became the first 16-seed to down a No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament. Season tickets are on sale for Northern Kentucky's home slate and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by contacting Micki Ford, Coordinator of Athletics Ticketing, at (859) 572-7848 or fordm10@nku.edu.
 
Fresh off of leading Team USA to a gold medal in the FISU America Hames, Drew McDonald returns for his senior campaign. He paced the Norse with 17.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game last season. McDonald was named first team all-league for the second-straight year, while also garnering all-district and Lou Henson Mid-Major All-America Team accolades. His 18 double-doubles were the 11th-most in the country. Horizon League All-Freshman and All-Defensive honoree Jalen Tate returns for his sophomore campaign.