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NKU faces tall task at No. 8 Texas A&M on Tuesday; TMC women visit Hawaii, NKU women in Florida


By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

Call it a road trip of opposite extremes.

On Sunday, Northern Kentucky University faced a Maryland-Baltimore County team that excels on the perimeter and is fueled offensively by a lightning-quick scoring guard.

And on Tuesday night, NKU will complete its two-game road trip with a stop in College Station, Texas, where the Norse will encounter a nationally ranked Texas A&M squad that features seven players who stand at least 6-foot-9. Four of those listed on the Texas A&M roster are 6-10.

Texas A&M’s Tonny Trocha-Morelos with a dunk.

Texas A&M is 9-1 and ranked No. 8 nationally in the latest Associated Press top 25. The tall, athletic Aggies block an average of 6.5 shots per game, which is seventh nationally in the NCAA statistics. In 10 games, Texas A&M has swatted away 65 shots by the opponents.

NKU, now 7-4 after dropping a 76-75 decision at UMBC on Sunday, will see a completely different style of play Tuesday night than it faced in Baltimore two days earlier. UMBC leads the nation in 3-pointers made and is a guard-oriented team. In fact, senior guard Jairus Lyles poured in a game-high 31 points to lead the Retrievers to the win against the Norse. Lyles’ ability to control the game with his one-on-one moves and ability to draw fouls allowed UMBC to hold off NKU.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, blocks plenty of shots and has an effective inside attack. The Aggies are a good rebounding team as well, ranking first nationally in defensive rebounds (32.4) and 10th in rebound margin at +10.3. They are also third nationally in field-goal percentage defense (.359) and second in 3-point defense (.244).

Texas A&M features 6-9 junior forward D.J. Hogg, who leads the Aggies in scoring at 15.7 points per game. Hogg does much of his scoring from the outside, as evidenced by his 33-for-61 shooting from 3-point range.

Tyler Davis, a 6-10 junior center, averages 13.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He is second on the team with 16 blocks and has made 65.9 percent of his shots from the field. Sophomore Robert Williams, a 6-10 forward projected as certain first-round NBA draft pick, leads the Aggies with 19 blocks and averages 8.0 points per contest. He also leads Texas A&M in rebounding at 10.4 boards per game. Senior center Tonny Trocha-Morelos, also standing 6-10, averages 8.5 points and has 10 blocked shots.

Texas A&M also has skill in the backcourt. Junior guard Admon Gilder is scoring 12.7 points per game, while point guard Duane Wilson leads the team in assists (4.1 apg) and averages 10.9 points per contest.

NKU is led in scoring and rebounding by junior forward Drew McDonald, who averages 16.1 points and 7.3 rebounds. McDonald collected his 19th career double-double Sunday with 24 points and 11 rebounds against UMBC.

NKU’s Jordan Garnett (1) defends UMBC’s Arkel Lamar on Dec. 17. UMBC won that game, 76-75.

Sophomore forward Carson Williams is sixth nationally in field-goal percentage (.711) and averages 15.5 points per game. Williams, who netted 21 points at UMBC, has scored at least 20 points in three straight games.

Senior guard Lavone Holland II enters the Texas A&M game with 963 career points. Holland averages 14.1 points per game and leads NKU in assists (55). He scored 15 points against UMBC on Sunday.

This will mark the first meeting between NKU and Texas A&M.

TMC TEAMS BACK IN ACTION: After taking a week off for final exams, both Thomas More College basketball teams return to action Tuesday night. The TMC women (8-1, ranked No. 10 nationally in Division III) are in Hawaii to meet Willamette University (4-4) as part of the Hoop N’ Surf Classic on the island of Oahu. That game will tip at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

The Saints close out the two-day event Wednesday at 6 p.m. with a showdown against powerful Christopher Newport University, which is unbeaten (8-0) ranked No. 2 nationally in the Division III poll.

The TMC men play host to Franklin (Ind.) at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Connor Convocation Center. The Saints are 6-3 overall and have won two straight. Franklin is 2-7 entering Tuesday’s game.

NKU WOMEN IN FLORIDA: The NKU women’s basketball team returns to action Tuesday in Jacksonville, Fla., with a game against North Florida (5-6) at 2 p.m. as part of the UNF Holiday Classic. The Norse, who are 1-7 this season, conclude the two-day event Wednesday with a noon game against Jacksonville (7-4) at the UNF Arena.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com


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