ROCHESTER, Mich. – Northern Kentucky is aiming for a season sweep of Oakland when the teams reconvene at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Golden Grizzlies' Athletics Center O'Rena. The Norse prevailed in Game One, an 87-78 overtime triumph Feb. 4 at BB&T Arena.
 
Both teams lost Friday – NKU at Detroit Mercy and Oakland at home to Wright State – and the stakes remain high with Horizon League Championship seeding on the line.
 
This outing is the last in NKU's five-game road swing. The Norse return home for their final two regular-season games.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky Norse (15-11, 11-6 Horizon League)
Oakland Golden Grizzlies (18-9, 11-5 Horizon League)
Sunday, Feb. 20 | 3 p.m. (ET)
Rochester, Mich. | Athletics Center O'Rena (4,000)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: ESPN1530
Stats: Live Stats
Digital Program: NKU Men's Basketball Weekly – Week 14
 
Fast Break Points
• Horizon League standings and conference tournament seeding continue to be at stake as Northern Kentucky prepares for its final regular-season road game. The Norse slipped to fifth place following Friday's loss at Detroit Mercy. The top four teams in the standings at the regular season's end receive Horizon League Championship first-round byes and host quarterfinals.
 
• The Norse have won nine of their last 11 games and while holding those 11 foes to an average of 61.2 points. For the season, NKU has the Horizon League's top scoring defense (66.1 points).
 
• 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, 26 games into 2021-22, the Norse rank 11th (35.4%) per KenPom.com. The payoff for attacking the offensive glass: NKU's 320 second-chance points this season. That's an average of 12.3 points a game.
 
• In the national statistical rankings, NKU is 12th in total steals (240), 14th in steals per game (9.2), 22nd in offensive rebounds per game (12.7) and 45th in made threes per game (9.0).
 
• 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 the team with 14.8 points per game. He has averaged 16.7 points in the Norse's last nine outings alone.
 
• G Trevon Faulkner, a Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team selection, averages 12.1 points and has made at least one 3-pointer in 20 of his 25 games.
 
• G Sam Vinson has been named Nike Horizon League Men's Freshman of the Week seven times. He ranks 21st nationally in total steals (54) and 36th in steals per game (2.1).
 
• F Adrian Nelson, a Horizon League All-Academic honoree, ranks sixth all-time at NKU with 690 career rebounds. His 3.1 offensive rebounds per game rank second in the Horizon League.
 
• F Chris Brandon has recorded two double-doubles this season, most recently Feb. 9 at Milwaukee (17 pts, 11 reb). He averages a league-third 3.0 offensive rebounds per game.
 
• G Bryson Langdon has averaged 8.8 points and 6.0 assists in NKU's last five games. His assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3) ranks fourth in the Horizon League and 53rd nationally.
 
• G Hubie Pivorius is shooting 44.6% (29-of-65) from 3-point range, including a 4-for-5 performance at Detroit Mercy Feb. 18. He turned all four triples in 3:22.
 
Last Time Out
Northern Kentucky never found its stride in a 60-52 loss to Detroit Mercy, Friday at Calihan Hall. NKU finished with a season-low 52 points, 18 below its season average, and trailed by 17 points in the second half. The Norse shot 39.2% from the field and 28% from 3-point range. They also surrendered 15 points off turnovers and allowed eight second-half 3-pointers. The Titans, which completed a season sweep of NKU, have accounted for the Norse's only two losses in the last 11 games. Marques Warrick led NKU in scoring with 13 points behind 4-of-6 free-throw shooting. Hubie Pivorius scored all 12 of his points from 3-point range (4-for-5) within a 3:22 span late in the game.
 
Scouting Oakland
The Golden Grizzlies enter the Norse rematch ranked No. 2 in the Horizon League standings, but they're fresh from a 78-74 loss to Wright State before an ESPN2 audience Friday on their home court. The Raiders rallied from 12 down in a 23-9 run and clinched the win in the final seconds. Oakland has the league's No. 2 scoring offense (75.8 points per game) and No. 3 scoring defense (68.6 points per game) and ranks highly in scoring margin (+7.22, first place), free-throw percentage (79.4, first place), 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.3, first place) and turnover margin (+2.74, first place). Former Marquette player Jamal Cain leads the Golden Grizzlies and ranks second in the conference in scoring with 20.4 points per game. He's first in the league in rebounding (10 rpg).
 
Series Stuff
NKU leads the series 7-6. The Norse unlocked a series tie with an 87-78 overtime win Feb. 4 at BB&T Arena. Trevon Faulkner scored 26 points with nine rebounds on a night the Norse overcame a 14-point first-half deficit. Sam Vinson scored 20 points and Chris Brandon had his first NKU double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds while Bryson Langdon had seven assists with only one turnover plus a career-high tying seven rebounds. The Norse outscored Oakland 17-8 in overtime and ended the game on a 7-0 run.