HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY. – Northern Kentucky is assured a Top Four finish in the Horizon League, which comes with a first-round conference tournament bye and a quarterfinal game it will host, but seeding remains on the line when the Norse welcome Youngstown State to BB&T Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday in a regular-season finale.
 
The Norse could finish as high as the No. 2 seed with a victory over Youngstown State coupled with a Purdue Fort Wayne loss. It could finish as low as the No. 4 seed with a loss and a Wright State win.
 
The Norse defeated the Penguins in dramatic fashion Jan. 13 on the road and now will attempt a regular-season sweep on Senior Night.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky Norse (17-11, 13-6 Horizon League)
Youngstown State Penguins (18-12, 12-8 Horizon League)
Saturday, Feb. 26 | 7 p.m. (ET)
Highland Heights, Ky. | BB&T Arena (8,247)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: 55KRC
Stats: Live Stats
Digital Program: NKU Men's Basketball Weekly – Issue 15
 
Fast Break Points
• The Norse have won 11 of their last 13 games and enter their regular-season finale with 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, 28 games into 2021-22, the Norse rank eighth (36.1%) per KenPom.com. The payoff for attacking the offensive glass: NKU's 351 second-chance points this season. That's an average of 12.5 points a game.
 
• In the national statistical rankings, NKU is ninth in total steals (259), 12th in steals per game (9.2), 16th in offensive rebounds per game (12.9) and 37th 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, tied a career high with 30 points against Robert Morris behind a career-best seven 3-pointers. He averages 15.8 ppg.
 
• G Trevon Faulkner, a Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team selection, averages 11.8 points and has made at least one 3-pointer in 22 of his 27 games.
 
• G Sam Vinson has been named Nike Horizon League Men's Freshman of the Week seven times. He ranks 24th nationally in total steals (56) and 37th in steals per game (2.0).
 
• F Adrian Nelson, a Horizon League All-Academic Honorable Mention, ranks sixth all-time at NKU with 707 rebounds. His 3.2 offensive rebounds per game rank first 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's assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0) ranks fifth in the Horizon League and 94th nationally. He's averaging 5.8 points and 3.9 assists per game.
 
• G Hubie Pivorius is shooting 44% (33-of-75) from 3-point range, including a 4-for-5 performance at Detroit Mercy Feb. 18. He went 3-for-5 from the perimeter at Oakland Feb. 20.
 
Last Time Out
Northern Kentucky defeated Robert Morris 78-64 Thursday at BB&T Arena, avenging a Jan. 15 loss to the Colonials and bolstering its Horizon League resume ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale. Marques Warrick scored a career-high-tying 30 points behind a career-high seven 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and an assist. He went 10-for-19 from the field and 7-for-10 from the perimeter. NKU scored a season-high 46 first-half points and led by as many as 29 points in the victory.
 
Scouting Youngstown State
The Penguins are coming off an 84-72 loss at Wright State, a game in which they trailed the entire game, but have won eight of their last 10 outings. Youngstown State is led by Michael Akuchi's 14.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. The Penguins have the Horizon League's No. 4 scoring defense (68.7 ppg) and No. 5 scoring offense (73.2 ppg). They lead the league in rebounding margin (+2.76).
 
Series Stuff
NKU leads the Youngstown State series 13-10, including a dramatic 68-67 road victory Jan. 13 in Youngstown.  Adrian Nelson converted a game-winning layup via Sam Vinson's underneath out-of-bounds pass with 1.4 seconds left, ensuring the Norse's win at the Beeghly Center. The victory was NKU's first on the road this season and the first after a 12-day layoff from games due to two cancellations and a postponement. NKU has won nine of its last 10 games vs. the Penguins.