By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter
Northern Kentucky University snapped one streak Thursday night with its 95-85 win at Youngstown State, and the Norse will look to extend another Saturday when they visit Cleveland State at 3 p.m.
Going into Thursday night’s game, NKU had lost all three of its previous encounters against Youngstown State in the Beeghly Center since making the move to Division I. In fact, the Norse had not won a road game against the Penguins since Jan. 9, 1976, when they rallied from a 52-36 deficit and pulled out an 82-81 victory in double overtime.
Cleveland State knocked off visiting Wright State, 77-74, on Thursday night, allowing NKU to move into a first-place tie with the Raiders. The Vikings are 6-18 overall, 3-8 in the Horizon League.
Cleveland State made 14 shots from 3-point range Thursday night while upsetting Wright State. The 14 treys tied the program’s single-game record.
NKU has defeated Cleveland State three consecutive times, including a 70-55 victory in Highland Heights last month. Mason Faulkner scored a game-high 16 points to lead NKU in that win. Drew McDonald added 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Carson Williams chipped in 12 points and nine boards.
The Norse are 3-2 all-time against the Vikings.
Cleveland State is 6-5 at home this season. Senior guard Kenny Carpenter averages 12.8 points per game to lead the Vikings. Freshman guard Tyree Appleby scores 10.9 points per contest, and senior guard Bobby Word chips in 10.7 ppg.
NKU’s next triumph will be the 50th on the Norse sideline for head coach John Brannen. At the moment, Brannen has 49 victories as NKU’s coach. He also picked up a win as the interim head coach at Alabama in 2015.
Brannen earned Horizon League Coach of the Year honors last season.
WHAT: Northern Kentucky (16-7, 9-2 HL) at Cleveland State (6-18, 3-8 HL)
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 3 p.m.
WHERE: Cleveland, Ohio
ARENA: Wolstein Center (13,610 capacity)
TV: ESPN3
RADIO: 55KRC (550 AM)
SERIES: NKU leads, 3-2
Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport