NKU plays host to Miami (Ohio) on Sunday night; Thomas More women remain unbeaten

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

Miami (Ohio) has won three in a row and appears to have found a set rotation, while Northern Kentucky University is looking to snap a two-game losing streak and is still trying to overcome youth and a nagging injury to a key player.

Those facts alone make Sunday’s 7 p.m. showdown between the RedHawks and Norse at BB&T Arena intriguing and important for both teams. It’s also Miami’s first-ever visit to Highland Heights to play NKU, which is 1-0 all-time against the RedHawks.

NKU (8-3) is trying to shake off a last-second 76-74 loss at Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 8. Nick Mayo hit a 12-foot baseline jumper with 0.4 seconds remaining to give Eastern Kentucky the win over the visiting Norse in McBrayer Arena.

Drew McDonald scored 23 points against Eastern Kentucky and hauled in six rebounds — including an offensive board early in the first half that allowed him to pass LaRon Moore as NKU’s all-time career leader with 860 caroms. McDonald, who enters Sunday with 864 career rebounds, averages a team-leading 18.4 points per game. He also hauls in a team-best 9.3 rebounds per contest.

Tyler Sharpe is second on the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game. During the last six games, the junior guard has upped that average to 17.3 ppg on the strength of 48.9 percent (22-of-45) shooting from 3-point range. Sharpe is also getting it done on the defensive end, as his 21 steals on the season are the 39th-most in the country.

NKU played at Eastern Kentucky without sophomore guard Jalen Tate, still battling the effects of an injured groin. Tate averages 11.6 points and 3.5 assists per game, and he is also the Norse’s top defensive player.

“Jalen is out indefinitely, and I’m not sure when he will be back,” NKU head coach John Brannen said after the Eastern Kentucky game. “Guys have to step up, and I thought Zaynah Robinson was really good tonight. He’s been very consistent lately. But this team needs to get in the gym and practice. We’ve had too many games. We need to get in the gym and practice.”

In the loss at Eastern Kentucky, Robinson scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds, while Chris Vogt hauled in a career-high 12 rebounds and added six points.

Miami enters Sunday with a 6-4 overall record. The RedHawks’ current three-game winning streak includes victories over Wilberforce, Wright State, and Purdue Fort Wayne. Nike Sibande leads Miami 16.7 points per game, while Dalonte Brown averages 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest.

Bam Bowman is averages double figures for Miami at 10.0 points per game. As a team, the RedHawks average 77.7 points and give up an average of 70.4 points.

NKU won the only meeting between the schools on Nov. 20, 2016. The Norse came away with a 79-70 victory in Oxford, Ohio. Lavone Holland II led the Norse with 25 points, and Drew McDonald just missed out on a double-double with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Sunday, Dec. 16
BB&T Arena (9,400), Highland Heights, Ky.
Miami (Ohio) (6-4) at NKU (8-3), 7 p.m.
NKU Radio: 55KRC (550 AM)
Series Record: NKU leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: NKU 79, Miami 70 (Nov. 20, 2016)

THOMAS MORE WOMEN REMAIN UNBEATEN: Madison Temple scored 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists Friday as No. 3 Thomas More (12-0) posted an 80-56 win over No. 19 Baldwin Wallace at the Post Exam Jam Tournament in Holland, Mich.

Thomas More shot 50.9 percent from the field and held Baldwin Wallace to 34 percent shooting. Kaela Saner added 17 points for Thomas More, which will face unbeaten and second-ranked Hope (Mich.) in the tournament championship game on Saturday. Asyah Mitchell finished with 11 points for the Saints.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport