HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The 2020-21 nonconference slate continues for the Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team with a trip to the Gem City to face off against the University of Dayton. The Norse are Flyers are set to tip off at 7 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast on Spectrum News 1 and ESPN+.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (2-1 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
University of Dayton Flyers (1-1 Overall, 0-0 A-10)
Tuesday, Dec. 8 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Dayton, Ohio | University of Dayton Arena (13,407)
TV: Spectrum News 1/ESPN+ with Dwight Burgess (PxP) and Tony White (Color)
Radio: ESPN1530 (1530AM) with Jim Kelch (PxP) and Rick Broering (Color)
Stats: Live Stats
 
Fast Break Points 
• NKU dropped its first game of the 2020-21 slate with a 79-72 setback at Chattanooga.
• After committing just 17 turnovers across the first two games combined, NKU had 21 turnovers that led to a 29-13 advantage in points off turnovers for the Mocs.
• NKU faces off against Dayton on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. The game replaces NKU's originally scheduled contest against Campbellsville-Harrodsburg that was canceled.
• NKU and Dayton have only met once before, with the Flyers staking claim to a 99-82 win at UD Arena on Dec. 1, 1993.
• 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 8th in the country in offensive rebound percentage (40.5).
• 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 196-121.
• 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 97-40 (.708), 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 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals.
• F Adrian Nelson has 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 is the nation's leader in rebounds per game (14.7) and offensive rebounds per game (6.33), while ranking third in double-doubles (3).
• The junior is averaging a double-double at 10.7 points and 14.7 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 11.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg on the year.
• G Trey Robinson has been nearly as impressive through three games, averaging 9.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game off the bench.
• G Bryson Langdon has been a steady presence for the Norse, averaging 10.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He scored 15 points against Tennessee Tech.
• F David Böhm is NKU's third freshman among its top six scorers, averaging 7.0 ppg.
 
Last Time Out
Northern Kentucky dropped its first game of the season with a 79-72 setback at Chattanooga. Turnovers were costly for the Norse, who coughed the ball up 21 times resulting in a 29-13 advantage in points off of turnovers for the Mocs. NKU shot 50 percent from the floor, including 44 percent from three, and won the rebounding battle, but allowed UTC to convert 52 percent of its attempts. Faulkner and Warrick scored 13 points apiece, while Nelson added a third-straight double-double after shooting 6-of-7 from the floor for 12 points and nabbing 11 rebounds. Langdon contributed 10 points.
 
Scouting Dayton
The Dayton Flyers are 1-1 on the season, defeating Eastern Illinois and falling to SMU with both games occurring at UD Arena. Both games were one possession contests. Jalen Crutcher, a preseason second-team all-American and member of the NABC National Player of the Year and Cousy Watch Lists, leads the Flyers. He averages 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Ibi Watson is the team's leading scorer at 19.5 ppg, while Jordy Tshimang contributes 9.0 points and 10 rebounds and Chase Johnson adds 14.0 points.
 
Series Stuff
Northern Kentucky and Dayton have only met once before on the hardwood, with the Flyers claiming a 99-82 win at UD Arena on Dec. 1, 1993.