Northern Kentucky Norse Defeat Indiana University Indianapolis Greyhounds 84-81 Behind Donovan Oday's 26 Points

The Northern Kentucky Norse secured a hard-fought 84-81 victory over the Indiana University Indianapolis Greyhounds, with Donovan Oday leading the charge with 26 points. Northern Kentucky, currently ranked 199 in the NET rankings, improved their record to 16-11, while IU Indianapolis fell to 7-20. The Greyhounds' Kyler D'Augustino put up an impressive 22 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Norse's balanced attack, which saw three players score 19 points or more. Northern Kentucky's 57-point second half was the difference-maker, as they outscored IU Indianapolis by 12 points in the final 20 minutes.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with IU Indianapolis taking a 36-27 lead into halftime. However, Northern Kentucky came out strong in the second half, scoring 57 points and shooting 51.7% from the field. The Norse's Tae Dozier was a key factor in the second half, scoring 14 of his 19 points and grabbing 7 of his 9 rebounds. IU Indianapolis's Jaxon Edwards had a well-rounded game, scoring 16 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Norse's high-powered offense. Northern Kentucky's 84 points were the most they've scored in a game since January 15, when they put up 88 points against a conference opponent. The Norse's 27 first-half points were their lowest output of the half this season, but they were able to bounce back and secure the win.

Donovan Oday and Kyler D'Augustino were the standout performers in the game, combining for 48 points. Oday's 26 points led all scorers, while D'Augustino's 22 points paced the Greyhounds. Northern Kentucky's Dan Gherezgher had a strong all-around game, scoring 24 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists. IU Indianapolis's Finley Woodward chipped in with 15 points and 6 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Norse's balanced attack. Northern Kentucky's Tae Dozier was a key contributor off the bench, scoring 19 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in just 23 minutes of action. The Norse's bench outscored IU Indianapolis's bench 25-15, with Dozier accounting for nearly 80% of those points.

The game was a high-scoring affair, with both teams combining for 165 points. Northern Kentucky shot 49.2% from the field, while IU Indianapolis shot 45.5%. The Norse outrebounded the Greyhounds 38-32, with Tae Dozier grabbing a game-high 9 rebounds. Northern Kentucky also had a significant advantage at the free-throw line, shooting 23-30 compared to IU Indianapolis's 15-20. The Norse's 23 made free throws were their most in a game since December 10, when they made 25 against a non-conference opponent. IU Indianapolis's 36 first-half points were their highest output of the half in their last 5 games.

The CHD Scout predicted a Northern Kentucky victory by 7.6 points, and while the margin was closer than expected, the Norse still won. The predicted score was 77-84, but both teams exceeded their projected point totals. The actual margin of victory was 3 points, with Northern Kentucky securing the 84-81 win. The CHD Scout was correct in predicting the winner, but underestimated the competitiveness of the game. IU Indianapolis's 81 points were their most in a game since January 22, when they scored 83 points against a conference opponent. Northern Kentucky's 84 points were their most in a game since February 1, when they scored 85 points against a non-conference opponent.

The win was a Quad 4 victory for Northern Kentucky, who improved their record to 16-11. The loss was also a Quad 4 game for IU Indianapolis, who fell to 7-20. The NET rankings implications are significant, as Northern Kentucky remains at 199, while IU Indianapolis stays at 309. The win helps Northern Kentucky's tournament resume, as they look to make a push for a postseason berth. The Norse's 16-11 record is their best at this point in the season since the 2018-2019 campaign. IU Indianapolis's 7-20 record is their worst at this point in the season since the 2015-2016 campaign.

Northern Kentucky's next game is against a conference opponent on February 15, while IU Indianapolis takes on a non-conference foe on February 17. The Norse want to build on their momentum, while the Greyhounds will try to bounce back from a tough loss. Northern Kentucky's upcoming game will be their 28th of the season, while IU Indianapolis's next game will be their 27th.