Who’s Playing
Northern Kentucky @ Houston
Regular Season Records: Northern Kentucky 22-12; Houston 31-3
What to Know
The Northern Kentucky Norse and the #2 Houston Cougars are set to clash at 9:20 p.m. ET March 16 at Legacy Arena in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Norse should still be riding high after a victory, while Houston will be looking to get back in the win column.
The Cleveland State Vikings typically have all the answers at home, but last week NKU proved too difficult a challenge. NKU came out on top in a nail-biter against Cleveland State, sneaking past 63-61. Kudos to the oddsmakers for accurately forecasting both the winner and the close margin. NKU’s success was spearheaded by the efforts of guard Sam Vinson, who had 16 points in addition to five boards, and guard Marques Warrick, who had 18 points along with six rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Cougars came up short against the Memphis Tigers on Sunday, falling 75-65. Guard Terrance Arceneaux had a pretty forgettable game, finishing with only nine points on 3-for-10 shooting in his 35 minutes on the court.
Two defensive stats to keep an eye on: The Norse come into the matchup boasting the 28th fewest points allowed per game in college basketball at 63.6. As for Houston, they have been holding their opponents to a field goal percentage of 36.40%, which places them first in college basketball.
How To Watch
- When: Thursday at 9:20 p.m. ET
- Where: Legacy Arena — Birmingham, Alabama
- TV: TNT
- Follow: CBS Sports App
Series History
This is the first time these teams have played each other within the last eight years.
