HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Two teams on four-game winning streaks collide at noon Sunday when Northern Kentucky hosts Horizon League leader Cleveland State at BB&T Arena. The Vikings (14-4, 10-1 Horizon League) won the teams' first match-up in December, a 72-58 league opener, on a night NKU (10-9, 6-4) tied a program record with 39 3-point attempts.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky Norse (10-9 Overall, 6-4 Horizon League)
Cleveland State Vikings (14-4 Overall, 10-1 Horizon League)
Sunday, Jan. 30 | 12 p.m. (ET)
Highland Heights, Ky. | BB&T Arena (8,427)
TV: Bally Sports Ohio
Radio: 55KRC
Stats: Live Stats
Digital Program: NKU Men's Basketball Weekly – Week 11
 
Fast Break Points
• NKU has won five of its last six games, including four straight, largely due to its defense. The Norse are allowing a league-low 66.4 points per game on the season and have held their last four foes to an average of 55.8 ppg. The team allowed just five second-half field goals in Friday's win over Purdue Fort Wayne - and none for the final 11:58.
 
• NKU has been an offensive rebounding juggernaut under Darrin Horn. The Norse were 117th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (29.7) in 2019-20, Horn's first season at the helm. NKU ascended to No. 15 (34.9%) in 2020-21. Now, 19 games into 2021-22, the Norse rank 18th (35.5%) per KenPom.com. The payoff for attacking the offensive glass: NKU's 238 second-chance points this season. That's an average of 12.5 points a game.
 
• In the national statistical rankings, NKU is 13th in offensive rebounds (13.4 orpg), 17th in steals (9.4 spg), 19th in total steals (179) and 38th in made threes (9.3).
 
• According to KenPom, NKU ranks 18th in offensive rebounding percentage (35.5%) and 20^th in defensive steal percentage (12.8%).
 
• NKU was picked to finish third in a tightly contested #HLMBB preseason poll.
 
• NKU has been one of the most dominant teams in the Horizon League over the last four seasons, winning five of the combined 10 league championships (two regular season and three tournament).
 
• NKU is riding a streak of five straight seasons with a winning percentage, beginning with the 2016-17 team. NKU has won the Horizon League regular season twice (2018, 2019) and league tourney three times (2017, 2019, 2020). The Norse have qualified for either the NCAA Tournament (2017, 2019, 2020) or NIT (2018) every year except 2021.
 
• G Marques Warrick, the reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year, leads NKU in scoring (14.2 ppg). He has averaged 16.9 points in NKU's last eight games.
 
• G Trevon Faulkner, a Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team selection, contributes a team-second 12.1 points. He has made at least one 3-pointer in 15 of his 18 games this season.
 
• G Sam Vinson, a five-time Nike Horizon League Men's Freshman of the Week, led NKU with 17 points against PFW. He ranks 16th nationally in steals per game (2.2) and total steals (42).
 
• F Adrian Nelson, a Horizon League All-Academic honoree, has 648 career rebounds. He's 19 boards shy of overtaking Chris Wall (1985-89) as NKU's No. 8 career rebounder.
 
• F Chris Brandon has been a force on the glass, with an average of 6.6 rebounds including 2.9 offensive boards. His offensive rebounding stat ranks 51st in the country.
 
Last Time Out
NKU rode stringent second-half defense to a 59-49 win over Purdue Fort Wayne, Friday at BB&T Arena. The Norse denied the Mastodons a field goal for the final 11:58 and finished the win on a 23-4 tear. The victory, NKU's fourth straight, avenged a Dec. 4 loss in the teams' first meeting. PFW's 49 points tied a season low, duplicating its total in a Nov. 19 loss at Minnesota (78-49). Sam Vinson led the Norse with 17 points and added four assists, three rebounds and three steals. Trevon Faulkner (12 points, six rebounds) and Marques Warrick (10 points, four assists) helped ensure the victory. Adrian Nelson led all rebounders with 12 boards.
 
Scouting Cleveland State
Cleveland State enters Sunday's game with top billing in the Horizon League (10-1). The Vikings defeated Wright State 71-67 on Friday in Cleveland behind a season-high 16 steals. The Vikings lead the Horizon League in field goal percentage (46.7%), paced by D'Moi Hodges' 15.5 points per game. Cleveland State's lone league loss thus far came Jan. 13 against Oakland (70-65) on the Vikings' court.
 
Series Stuff
The series is tied 7-7. The most recent clash came Dec. 2 in a league opener, a 72-58 Cleveland State win on its home court. The Vikings shot 50% throughout and outscored NKU 48-18 in the paint. Cleveland State has won the team's last three meetings. The Norse's last victory over the Vikings was Feb. 20, 2020, a 73-59 triumph on the road.