Aggies Host Northern Kentucky Tuesday Night

Tuesday, December 19

College Station

7 p.m.

Texas A&M

Northern Kentucky

Tickets

Photo by: Ben Solomon

Dec 18, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Tickets Texas A&M Game Notes Northern Kentucky Game Notes SEC Basketball

By: Texas A&M Media Relations

Aggie Basketball Game #11:
Northern Kentucky (7-4) at #8 Texas A&M (9-1)
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 · 7 p.m. (CT)
Reed Arena (12,989) · College Station, Texas

TELEVISION: SEC Network PLUS (For more info – 12thMan.com/TV)
Will Johnson, Play-by-Play
   John Thornton, Commentary

RADIO: WTAW 1620 AM (Bryan-College Station)
   Dave South, Play-by-Play
   Al Pulliam, Commentary

SATELLITE RADIO: Sirius Ch. 108 / XM Ch.190
LIVE AUDIO/STATS: 12thman.com/live
LIVE MOBILE LIVE STATS: tamustats.com

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 8 Aggies return to action Tuesday night inside the friendly confines of Reed Arena where Texas A&M will host Northern Kentucky in a 7 p.m. contest.

Tuesday's game is part of A&M Athletics' Holiday Hoops promotion, which features $5 tickets for the Northern Kentucky contest as well as upcoming games against Buffalo (Dec. 21) and Florida (Jan. 2).

The affair with Northern Kentucky will stand out as the Aggies' fifth tilt against a team from the 2017 NCAA Tournament as the Norse won 24 games a season ago, punching their ticket to the Big Dance by winning the Horizon League Tournament. In the tournament, NKU fell in the first round to in-state rival Kentucky 79-70.

Texas A&M has already carded wins over 2017 NCAA Tournament squads West Virginia, Oklahoma State and USC while dropping a hard-fought contest against Arizona.

The Aggies improved to 9-1 on the season with a 113-66 victory over Savannah State last Thursday at Reed Arena. The 113 points were the most A&M has scored in a game since putting up 114 against Florida International on Dec. 21, 1989. The Aggies were led by double-double performances from Tyler Davis and Tonny Trocha-Morelos in the win over the Tigers.

Northern Kentucky (7-4) makes the trip to Aggieland after dropping a 76-75 decision at UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) on Sunday night. The Norse feature a trio of players averaging double-figure scoring this season, led by junior forward/center Drew McDonald who leads the team at 16.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per outing.

Tuesday's game will be shown digitally on mobile devices, tablets, PCs and connect-TVs for SEC Network subscribers whose cable/satellite packages allow access to SEC Network+ content through the WatchESPN app and SECSports.com. Additionally, radio coverage on the Aggie Sports Network can be heard locally in the Bryan/College Station area on WTAW 1620 AM.

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SETTING THE SCENE / NOTABLES

• Tuesday's game vs. Northern Kentucky will stand out as the Aggies' fifth game against a team from the 2017 NCAA Tournament ... the Norse won 24 games a season ago, punching their ticket to the Big Dance by winning the Horizon League Tournament ... NKU fell in the first round to Kentucky 79-70
• Texas A&M has quickly built one of the country's most impressive résumés with four wins over four high-major opponents - West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Penn State and USC.
• The Aggies rank No. 9 in the NCAA's daily RPI report (through Dec. 17 games).
• Reed Arena has proven to be one of the hardest places for opponents to get a win as Texas A&M has never lost a non-conference game inside Reed Arena while playing as a ranked team.
• Through Dec. 17 games, Kenpom.com rate the Aggies as one of the nation's elite defensive teams by slotting them third in adjusted defensive efficiency (88.9) ... A&M ranks first in the SEC in field goal percentage defense (third nationally), allowing opponents to shoot just 35.9 percent from the field.
• On the offensive end, Texas A&M has also been one of the country's best as well, checking in at No. 27 in Kenpom.com's adjusted offensive efficiency ... overall, kenpom.com ranks the Aggies fourth in its College Basketball rating.

AGGIES RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST REBOUNDING TEAMS

Texas A&M enters the Northern Kentucky games leading the nation in defensive rebounds per game (32.4) while ranking third nationally in total rebounds per game (44.9) and 10th in rebound margin (+10.3).

A&M ELITE ON THE DEFENSIVE END

Through games played on Dec. 16, Texas A&M stands out as one of the country's toughest defensive squads checks in at third nationally in field goal percentage defense (35.9 percent) and second in 3-point field goal defense (24.4 percent). Additionally, A&M is sixth in blocked shots per game (6.5).

SERIES HISTORY VS NORTHERN KENTUCKY (FIRST MEETING)

• Tuesday will see the Aggies & Norse square off on the hardwood for the first time.
• Texas A&M's Billy Kennedy has never faced the Norse during his 20-year head coaching career ... Northern Kentucky's John Brannen faced the Aggies multiple times during this time assistant at Alabama (2009-15).

TYLER JOINS 500-REBOUND CLUB; CLIMBING A&M'S CAREER REBOUND LIST

From the first day he hit the court as a rookie wearing the Maroon & White, Tyler Davis has always prided himself on hitting the boards hard. That dedication garnered Davis spot in Texas A&M's exclusive 500-rebound Club as he hit the milestone against Prairie View A&M on Dec. 9 to become just the 26th Aggie to reach 500.

He currently ranks 22^nd in school history with 520 career boards. Up next on the list is Ray Turner who pulled down 536 boards from 2009-13.

REED ARENA SUCCESS

• The Aggies are 5-0 on their home court this year and 241-82 (.746) all-time in 20 seasons at Reed Arena ... the Aggies were 41-41 in the first six years at Reed and are 200-41 (.830) since.
• In the last five seasons, Texas A&M is 64-13 (.831) on its home floor.
• A&M has won 158 of its last 182 home games against unranked opponents (43 of last 58 in league play).
• Texas A&M is 5-0 in non-conference games at Reed Arena this season and 150-14 (.915) all-time in non-conference games inside the facility, which hosted its first basketball game in the fall of 1998.

UP NEXT AFTER THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY GAME

The Aggies wrap up their homestand at Reed Arena when they host Buffalo on Thursday at 8 p.m. ... the game will be televised nationally on SEC Network.