If you walked into Truist Arena this past Thursday, you felt it. That specific kind of electricity that only happens when a team stops "trying" to find their rhythm and actually finds it. The final Northern Kentucky basketball score against Detroit Mercy—a dominant 96-71 victory—wasn't just another tick in the win column. It was a statement.
Honestly, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster for Darrin Horn’s squad lately. One day you’re biting your nails over a two-point heartbreaker in Green Bay, and the next, you’re watching the Norse drop nearly 100 points like it’s a light practice.
The big story? LJ Wells. The senior didn't just play well; he basically took over the building. He put up a career-high 35 points, shooting an absurd 11-of-15 from the floor. When a guy is 6'8" and hitting step-back threes, what is a Horizon League defender even supposed to do? You've gotta feel for Detroit Mercy. They came in hoping to build momentum, but they ran into a buzzsaw that was shooting 60% in the first half.
Breaking Down the Recent Northern Kentucky Basketball Score
To really get what's happening with this team, you have to look past the final digits. This 96-71 win pushed NKU to 14-6 overall and 6-3 in the Horizon League. But it's the way they’re winning that’s interesting.
The Norse offense is currently humming at a clip we haven't seen in a few years. They're averaging 84.7 points per game, which ranks them second in the conference. If you follow mid-major hoops, you know that’s a massive jump from the defensive-grind identity they had back in the Loudon Love era.
Look at the split from the Detroit Mercy game:
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- Halftime Score: 57-32 (NKU led by 25)
- Field Goal Percentage: 60% in the first half
- Three-Point Shooting: 55.6% early on
It wasn't just Wells, either. Dan Gherezgher was perfect from downtown in the first half, going 3-for-3. When the secondary scoring is that sharp, it opens up the lanes for Donovan Oday to slice through the defense. Oday is currently averaging over 17 points a game, and his ability to push the tempo is why this team is suddenly so fun to watch.
The Green Bay Hangover and the Bounce Back
Kinda crazy how much a few days can change things. Just last Sunday, the mood was... let's say "tense." NKU dropped a road game to Green Bay 78-80. Losing by a bucket on the road is the kind of thing that can haunt a team for weeks.
Coach Horn mentioned after the Detroit win that there’s a new pressure on this team. Because they've shown they can score in bunches, fans start getting nervous if they aren't up by 20 at all times. But the response to that Green Bay loss was exactly what you want to see from a veteran group. They didn't pout; they just came home and dismantled the next team on the schedule.
What Most People Get Wrong About NKU's Defense
There's this weird misconception that because the Norse are scoring more, they've gone soft on the other end. That’s just not true.
Sure, they're giving up about 75 points a game, but look at the pace. They are forcing turnovers at a high rate—nearly 15 per game from their opponents. In the Detroit game, a "precarious pass" (as the local beat writers called it) from Lance Stone got picked off by Oday, which led to a transition dunk by Donovan Rakotonanahary. That's the blueprint. The defense creates the "easy" points that make the final score look so lopsided.
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The Horizon League Outlook: Where Do They Sit?
Right now, the Horizon League is a mess—in a good way. Wright State is sitting at the top, but the gap between the #1 seed and the #5 seed is basically a bad weekend.
Current Horizon League Standings (as of mid-January 2026):
- Wright State: 7-1 (12-7 overall)
- Green Bay: 6-2 (11-8 overall)
- Oakland: 6-2 (10-9 overall)
- Northern Kentucky: 6-3 (14-6 overall)
- Purdue Fort Wayne: 5-3 (11-8 overall)
NKU actually has the best overall winning percentage in the group (.700). Their home record at Truist Arena is a stout 10-2. Basically, if you want to beat the Norse, you better hope you get them on a bus ride to Wisconsin or Michigan. At home, they are a different animal.
Why Tonight’s Matchup with Robert Morris is Critical
If you're tracking the Northern Kentucky basketball score tonight, you're looking at a rematch against Robert Morris. NKU escaped Moon Township with a 79-77 win back in late December.
Robert Morris is better than their 3-5 conference record suggests. They play in a lot of close games—three-quarters of their losses have been by one possession. They have DeSean Goode, who’s been averaging nearly 19 points over his last ten games. If NKU let's him get hot, we won't see another 25-point blowout. It’ll be another nail-biter.
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Key Factors for the Next Few Games:
- The "Wells" Factor: Can LJ Wells maintain anything close to this efficiency? He probably won't drop 35 every night, but if he stays in the 20s, NKU is the favorite to win the conference tournament.
- The Point Guard Play: Donovan Oday’s decision-making in transition is the engine. When he has 7+ assists, NKU wins. When he turns it over, they struggle.
- Bench Depth: With Sam Vinson and Isaiah Mason providing stability, the Norse have a rotation that doesn't fall off a cliff when the starters need a breather.
Actionable Insights for Norse Fans
If you're following the team through the rest of the winter, here is how to stay ahead of the curve.
Watch the "Four-Minute" Windows
Darrin Horn’s system is built on "bursts." Pay attention to the under-12 and under-8 media timeouts. NKU has a habit of turning a 2-point lead into a 12-point lead in those four-minute stretches. If they win those segments, the final score usually takes care of itself.
Keep an eye on the Wright State Rematch
The game on January 24th in Dayton is basically for the regular-season title. Wright State plays a similar high-octane style. If you like the over, that’s the game to circle on your calendar.
Check the Strength of Schedule
The Norse played a brutal non-conference slate (Tennessee, Louisville, Ohio State). Don't let those early losses fool you. Those games were designed to toughen them up for the Horizon League tournament in March.
The most important thing to remember is that this team is finally healthy. When Sam Vinson and LJ Wells are both on the floor and clicking, the Northern Kentucky basketball score is going to continue to favor the Norse. They've found their identity as a high-scoring, transition-heavy team that relies on senior leadership to close out games.
Keep an eye on the Robert Morris result tonight. A win there cements them as a top-tier contender for the NCAA Tournament bid. If they can sweep this homestand, the momentum heading into February will be unstoppable.