Men's Basketball Returns to Action with Trip to Northern Kentucky

Sunday, December 16

Highland Heights, Ky.

7:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

Northern Kentucky

Men's Basketball Returns to Action with Trip to Northern Kentucky

12/14/2018 9:52:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes - Northern Kentucky Fox Sports Go ESPN3 (Blacked out in Fox Sports Ohio viewing area)Live Stats Listen Live Tune In

Miami RedHawks (6-4) at Northern Kentucky Norse (8-3)
Game 11: Sunday, December 16 • 7 p.m.
BB&T Arena (9,400) • Highland Heights, Ky.
Series vs. NKU/ Streak: NKU leads 1-0/NKU-1
Last Meeting: NKU 79 Miami 70, November 20, 2016
TV: Fox Sports Ohio • Brady Laber (PxP) Brad Redford (Color)
Radio: Miami IMG Sports Network • Steve Baker (PxP) Terry Bridge (Color)
Miami IMG Sports Network Affiliates: WMOH 1450 Hamilton; WFMG 101.3 Richmond; WONE 980 Dayton

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - With finals in the rear view mirror, the Miami University men's basketball team looks to establish a new rivalry Sunday as it travels to Northern Kentucky. Tip time is 7 p.m. and it will air live on Fox Sports Ohio. It will also be available on ESPN3, but will be blacked out in the Fox Sports Ohio viewing area. An audio broadcast will be available on the RedHawk IMG Sports Network Tunein App.

BROWN'S BIG IMPROVEMENT: Sophomore Dalonte Brown had a strong rookie campaign, averaging 8.0 points and 5.4 rebounds last season, while earning a spot on the Mid-American Conference All-Freshmen Team. After an offseason of hard-work, he has shown one of the biggest statistical improvements on the RedHawks. As a sophomore Brown is averaging 15.6 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in eight out of 10 games this season, including a career-high 25 in the win over North Dakota State on Nov. 16. Brown scored 21 points in Miami's last contest, a victory over Purdue Fort Wayne.

THREE GAME WINNING STREAK: The RedHawks have won their past three games to improve their record to 6-4. During that win streak Miami is shooting the ball extremely well, hitting 48.6 percent of all its shots. That includes going 36-for-84 (42.9 percent) from behind the arc, an average of 12 three-point makes per game.

ABOUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY: Coming off a regular season Horizon League Championship last year, the Norse have gone 8-3 to begin the 2018-19 season. They have lost their past two games however, including a 76-74 defeat at Eastern Kentucky in their last action on Dec. 8. NKU is a perfect 6-0 at BB&T Arena this season. Its team is built around senior forward Drew McDonald. He is averaging a nearly a double-double at 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Three other Norse average in double figures in scoring, including junior guard Tyler Sharpe (14.1 ppg), junior forward Dantez Walton (11.8 ppg) and redshirt sophomore guard Jalen Tate (11.6 ppg).

THE SERIES WITH NORTHERN KENTUCKY: With Northern Kentucky having joined Division I in the 2012-13 season, this is only the second meeting all-time between the schools. In their first meeting on Nov. 20, 2016 in Oxford, the Norse came away with a 79-70 victory in the Tarkett Sports Classic. A tough shooting night from behind the arc (5-for-19) ended up hurting the RedHawks. Michael Weathers led Miami with 31 points.

MIAMI VS. HORIZON LEAGUE: The Horizon League is made up of 10 schools in the same geographical footprint as the MAC. Miami has had pretty good success against these schools. All-time, the RedHawks are 38-19 all-time against the current members of the Horizon League. In addition to its 0-1 record against Northern Kentucky, Miami is 21-13 vs. Wright State, 5-0 vs. Cleveland State, 2-0 vs. UIC, 4-1 vs. IUPUI, 2-0 vs. Oakland, 2-1 vs. Milwaukee and 2-3 vs. Green Bay. The RedHawks have never played Detroit or Youngstown State.

UP AHEAD: Miami has one final game before its holiday break as it welcomes South Carolina State to Millett Hall on Thursday, Dec. 20. Tip time is 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast will be available on the RedHawk IMG Sports Network Tunein App.