NKU’s crucial road swing through Michigan was billed as a pivotal moment for their Horizon League hopes. They needed to go 1-1, which felt doable coming into the weekend, however, they lost the game they were supposed to win Friday night behind an embarrassing first half. After a defensive collapse in Detroit on Friday, the Norse must now find a way to stop the bleeding against the powerhouse Oakland squad on Sunday afternoon.
Of note, Ethan Elliott’s presence was gravely missed on Friday and he comes into Sunday questionable. Without him, Dan will continue to handle the ball primarily.
Kael Robinson went 0-14 from the field and 0-8 from deep on Friday night. His cold streak has to stop or NKU won’t have a shot Sunday.
Friday Recap: Defensive Meltdown in the Motor City
Final Score: Detroit Mercy 90, NKU 77
If Friday was supposed to be a “get-right” game against a sub-.500 Detroit Mercy team, and NKU showed up expecting it to be easy. However, the Titans had a much different idea of how Friday was going to go. In an embarrassing 13-point loss, the Norse defense—long the identity of the program—simply failed to show up.
- The Three-Point Barrage: Detroit Mercy shot a blistering 60% from deep (12-of-20). Redshirt freshman Tyler Spratt played the game of his short career, torching the Norse for 28 points, and knocked down 8 triples. NKU, on the other hand, went a putrid 10-37 from deep, good for just 27%. They also shot just 63% from the FT line and 40% from the field overall.
- A Two-Man Show: Donovan Oday did everything in his power to keep NKU afloat, scoring a massive 33 points. While Dan Gherezgher Jr. chipped in 20, the rest of the roster struggled to find offensive rhythm, and the bench was non-existent.
- Glass Issues: The Titans bullied NKU on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 41–32, leading to second-chance points (Detroit led 14-10).
- A Positive: NKU dominated the turnover battle for the game, surrendering the ball just 8 times, which led to 14 Titan points. However, Detroit turned it over 15 times, leading to 29 Norse points.
The loss marks the third straight for NKU, pushing them right into the middle of a chaotic Horizon League race.
The State of the Horizon League
The loss to Detroit Mercy wasn’t just a blow to morale; it created a massive logjam in the middle of the standings. NKU is now fighting to stay in the top half of the bracket to secure a favorable seed for the conference tournament. Valhalla Voice will have the weekly update on Monday afternoon to show the Norse path to a home court game in the Horizon League tournament.
| Rank | Team | Horizon | Overall |
| 1 | Wright State | 9–2 | 14–8 |
| 2 | Oakland | 9–3 | 13–10 |
| 3 | Purdue Fort Wayne | 7–4 | 13–9 |
| 4 | Green Bay | 7–5 | 12–11 |
| 5 | Northern Kentucky | 6–6 | 14–9 |
| 6 | Robert Morris | 6–6 | 14–9 |
| 7 | Detroit Mercy | 6–6 | 9–12 |
Sunday Preview: The O’rena Gauntlet
Matchup: NKU Norse (14-9) vs. Oakland Golden Grizzlies (13-10)
Time: 3:00 PM ET | TV: ESPN+
Oakland is currently in second place and playing elite basketball. For the Norse to avoid an 0-2 Michigan trip, they must master these three tactical areas:
1. Rebounding Efficiency
In their December matchup (an 82–77 Oakland win), the rebounding was nearly dead even (39–38). However, Oakland was far more clinical, turning just 6 offensive boards into 10 points. NKU grabbed 13 offensive rebounds but managed only 12 points from them.
NKY’s Thought: NKU is “working harder, not smarter” on the glass. At the O’rena, they won’t get 13 second chances. They need to prioritize put-back efficiency; if LJ Wells gets a hand on it, it has to result in a bucket or a kick-out for an open three, not a reset that leads to a turnover.
2. Physicality Without the Whistle
The “free throw disparity” is becoming a ghost that haunts this Norse season. In the first meeting, NKU committed 21 fouls to Oakland’s 16, resulting in a +11 point advantage for the Grizzlies at the stripe (29 attempts to NKU’s 12).
NKY’s Thought: NKU’s defensive style is predicated on pressure, but they are reaching instead of moving their feet at times. Against a disciplined Oakland team, “playing hard” can’t mean “playing reckless.” If they send Brody Robinson to the line 10+ times, they have no chance.
3. Kill the “Early Deficit” Trend
You hit the nail on the head: NKU has developed a dangerous habit of falling behind by double digits early in 2026. While their resilience is admirable, you can’t play “hero ball” from behind against Greg Kampe.
NKY’s Thought: Oakland is a well coached and battle-tested team. If they get up by 10 at home, they will use their zone and Robinson’s clock management to suffocate the game. NKU needs to win the first four-minute “war” of the game to take the O’rena crowd out of it.
Key Player Matchup
Donovan Oday (17.9 PPG) vs. Brody Robinson (16.5 PPG, 6.4 APG): Oday is coming off a 33-point masterpiece, but Robinson is the best floor general in the league. If Oday outscores Robinson but Robinson has 8+ assists, Oakland likely wins.
Oakland’s Rotation:
Oakland is a bit beat up right now, and their last matchup they played just a 7 man rotation. I’m using the previous game’s rotation here, but just wanted to note that there could be different guys in pending health!
Starters:
Brody Robinson: 17/2/6, 1 steal and 2 turnovers per game. 41% from the field, 36% from deep. He killed NKU from the FT line last time.
Brett White II: 9/3/1, 1 steal and 0 turnovers per game. He isn’t a high usage guy, but shoots it well from deep (36%). Struggles fro the line and the field overall. 36 minutes last game, taking 8 3’s, making 3. He put up 13/11 against PFW.
Tuburu Naivalurua: Preseason Horizon League player of the year. 14/6/2, 1 steal, 1 block and 1 turnover per game. He shoots 33% from 3, 49% from the field and 70% from the FT line. Low volume shooter from deep.
Michael Houge: 13/6/1, He will be asked to carry a bit more of a physical load now with the injury issues. He does well at defending without fouling, and put up 15/11 against PFW. 27% from deep, 77% from the FT line and 53% from the field
Zaire Wells: Shifty guard, averaging 10/4/2, 1 steal, and 1 turnover per game. He shoots 40% from deep but has taken just 38 attempts. He can get hot and put up big numbers with 4 20+ point games this year.
Bench:
Khoi Thurmon: 3/1/2, 1 steal, 1 turnover per game. Not a shooter.
Warren Marshall IV: 3/1/0, 1 steal, 1 block per game, 30% from deep on the year.
The bench for Oakland is extremely limited with the recent injuries (below). The Norse have to push the tempo and try to draw fouls early to pressure this depth.
Injury updates:
Isaac Garrett: Injured last Saturday. He killed NKU last time out. Will miss this one.
The Bottom Line
The Norse are at a crossroads. A win at the O’rena would wash away the bad taste of the Detroit loss and prove they can compete with the league’s elite. A loss, however, would represent a four-game skid and a complete loss of momentum heading into February.
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