Men's Basketball 11/21/2022 9:30:00 AM

This Week in Northern Kentucky Athletics: November 21 – November 27

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Thanksgiving Holiday week is here but that doesn't mean it is time for rest just yet as Northern Kentucky Athletics has five basketball games on the docket, with a pre-Thanksgiving women's clash against Bowling Green on Wednesday at 2 PM ET, and the men's squad heads south for the Florida Gulf Coast Showcase on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before returning home for a showdown versus Tennessee Tech on Sunday at 2 PM.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Monday at Gulf Coast Showcase vs. Florida Gulf Coast (7:30 PM ET): Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Tuesday at Gulf Coast Showcase vs. TBD (TBD): Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Wednesday at Gulf Coast Showcase vs. TBD (TBD): Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Sunday vs. Tennessee Tech (2:00 PM ET): Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats

The Northern Kentucky men's basketball team heads south for the 2022 Gulf Coast Showcase, after a program defining win vs. Cincinnati on Wednesday, Nov. 16. The Norse will play a single game on Nov. 21, 22 and 23 in the three-day tournament. After the Gulf Coast Showcase, NKU will return home for a non-conference showdown against Tennessee Tech on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 PM ET.

NKU will open the Florida Gulf Coast tournament against host Florida Gulf Coast University on Monday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 PM ET. The Norse are looking for their first win in program history against the Eagles and enter Monday's clash 0-6 all-time against FGCU. The teams played home-and-away series for three years from 2013- 2015 back when Northern Kentucky was a member of the ASUN.

The winner of the FGCU-NKU contest faces the winner of Drexel vs. UT-Arlington in the Gulf Coast Showcase semifinals at 7:30 PM ET on Tuesday. Teams not advancing to the finals participate in the consolation bracket for fifth place at 1:30 PM on Tuesday.

The Norse are led on the glass by standout center Chris Brandon who enters Monday's contest leading all NCAA Division I student-athletes in rebounding with 15.0 boards per contest. Brandon also leads the country with 10.0 defensive boards per game, is third with 5.0 offensive rebounds per contest and sits in a tie for 12th nationally with two double-doubles. His mark of 66.7 percent shooting from the field also slots in at 28th in the country.

Joining him in the national ranks is Marques Warrick who enters Monday ranked 100th in the nation with his average of 18.0 points per game.

NKU slots in at first in the Horizon League and 31st in the country with a 10.3 rebound margin. The Nose are also 22nd in the country with 14.67 offensive rebounds per game and 61st overall in total rebounding (41.33 per game).

It has been a BLOCK PARTY for the Norse who are ranked 40th in the nation with 5.3 rejections per contest.

Northern Kentucky is also amongst the national leaders in scoring defense at 59.7 points per game (54th in the nation), turnovers forced per game at 16.33 (79th) and turnover margin at 3.3 (85th).

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Wednesday at Bowling Green (2 PM ET): Listen | Live Stats

Northern Kentucky enters the holiday week after posting a 2-0 record, defeating both Dayton on the road and Tennessee Tech inside Truist Arena. The Norse downed the Flyers in double overtime by a score of 82-78, the second multi-overtime game for NKU this season. Lindsey Duvall went on to have another monster night, totaling 30 points and nine rebounds. Kailee Davis chipped in a career night for NKU in the win with 26 points and four assists as well.

The Norse capped off the week with a dominant home win over the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. This was a complete team victory, highlighted by a 19-0 scoring run which the Norse began the contest with to set the tone from the opening tip.

The upcoming matchup with BGSU sees the Falcons leading the all-time series at 2-0, having last met one another a few seasons ago on December 3, 2020. Bowling Green defeated the Norse in Highland Heights, 63-49. The Falcons were picked third in the MAC Coaches' Preseason Poll with two players earning Preseason All-MAC Second Team honors.