HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky wraps up the 2020-21 nonconference schedule with a road game at Kent State on Sunday, Dec. 13. The Norse and Golden Flashes are set to tip off at 2 p.m.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (2-2 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Kent State University Golden Flashes (2-1 Overall, 0-0 MAC)
Sunday, Dec. 13 – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Kent, Ohio | M.A.C. Center (6,327)
TV: Boxcast.TV
Radio: FoxSports1360 with Jim Kelch (PxP) and Rick Broering (Color)
Stats: Live Stats
 
Fast Break Points 
• NKU fell for the second-straight game, losing a 66-60 decision at Dayton.
• NKU plays its last scheduled nonconference game with a 2 o'clock Sunday matinee at Kent State in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
• NKU AC Eric Haut brings great familiarity with Kent State. In addition to a four-year playing career ('01-'04) with the Golden Flashes, he spent 11 years across two different stints ('05-'08,  '11-'19) on the men's basketball staff.
• NKU is coming off a 23-9 campaign in which it finished second in the Horizon League regular season at 13-5 and won the 2020 Horizon League Tournament Championship.
• NKU has posted four-straight 20-win seasons for just the second time in program history, joining the 1994-95 through 1997-98 teams as the only Norse squads to do so.
• Rebounding was key for NKU in 2019-20. It was a perfect 17-0 when either leading or tying the battle of the boards. It was an additional 5-2 when being outrebounded, but keeping the margin within five caroms. So far, NKU is 2-1 this year, winning one game under each scenario and losing its first game (Chattanooga) in the Darrin Horn era when winning the rebound battle.
• According to KenPom, NKU ranks 11th in the country in offensive rebound percentage (39.3).
• NKU is in the second year of the Darrin Horn era, as the Kentucky native is just the sixth head coach in the 50th season of the program. In his 11th year as a head coach, Horn has a career record of 196-122.
• NKU has been the most dominant team in the Horizon League over the last four seasons, amassing a 61-20 (.753) mark against league foes while winning five of the combined eight league championships (two regular season and three tournament).
• Since the start of the 2016-17 season, NKU is a combined 97-41 (.703), has won the Horizon League regular season twice ('18, '19) and league tourney thrice ('17, '19, '20), and has qualified for either the NCAA Tournament ('17, '19, '20) or NIT ('18) every year. No other team in DI history has registered this level of accomplishments in its first four years of active status.
• G Trevon Faulkner has been as advertised to start the season, impacting the game in all facets with averages of 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals.
• F Adrian Nelson opened the season with three-consecutive double-doubles, becoming the first Norse to do so since Drew McDonald had four-straight between Dec. 16-30, 2018.
• Nelson ranks fourth in the country in rebounds per game (12.0) and second offensive rebounds per game (5.25), while ranking third in double-doubles (3).
• The junior is nearly averaging a double-double at 9.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.
• G Marques Warrick has had a sensational debut for NKU. He has been named the #HLMBB Freshman of the Week in each of the first two weeks of the season, becoming the first League freshman to ever achieve the feat. He is averaging 10.0 ppg and 3.8 rpg on the year.
• G Trey Robinson has been equally as impressive through three games, averaging 10.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game off the bench.
• G Bryson Langdon has been a steady presence for the Norse, averaging 10.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He scored 15 points against Tennessee Tech.
• F David Böhm is NKU's third freshman among its top six scorers, averaging 7.5 ppg.
 
Last Time Out
Dayton rattled off a 22-2 run to erase Northern Kentucky's five-point lead to go ahead by 15. While the Norse continued to chip away and use mini-runs of 5-0, 5-0 and 7-1 to pull within four points with just under a minute to go, the Flyers sealed the game with a pair of free throws in a 66-60 decision. Faulkner led the Norse with 15 points and five boards. Both Robinson and Langdon contributed double-digits in scoring, 13 and 11 points respectively, while also adding five rebounds. Langdon also handed out four assists. NKU forced a season-high 22 turnovers, which it turned into 21 points, and grabbed 15 offensive boards in the game.
 
Scouting Kent State
Kent State enters at 2-1, with its setback coming in overtime at No. 15 Virginia. Preseason All-MAC Second Team member Danny Pippen is coming off a 23-point, seven-rebound effort against Northern Kentucky's Horizon League foe Detroit Mercy. Pippen is currently second on the team in scoring at 16.3 ppg. Michael Nuga leads the Golden Flashes in scoring, pouring in 17.3 points an outing. Justyn Hamilton averages a double-double at 10.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. KSU is averaging 78.0 points per game and giving up just 59.3.
 
Series Stuff
Northern Kentucky and Kent State have never met on the hardwood in men's basketball. The Norse are 1-0 so far this season against first-time opponents, dropping Tennessee Tech, 74-65.