Defense, Pressure, and Timely Answers Carry NKU Past Bellarmine 80-76
Northern Kentucky took care of business on the road Saturday afternoon, navigating a physical, back-and-forth game at Knights Hall to come away with an 80–76 win over Bellarmine. The Norse built control through defense and timely scoring, weathered multiple runs from the Knights, and made just enough plays late to close out a tough non-conference test.
First Half
Early Jitters, Early Chances
NKU’s offense opened exactly where it wanted to. Dan Gherezgher buried a three to get the Norse on the board, but the early rhythm didn’t fully settle in. Kael Robinson missed two clean looks in the paint, and Bellarmine found space on the perimeter, getting open shots that kept the Knights comfortable early. Tae Dozier fouling a three-point shooter only added fuel, pushing Bellarmine out to a 12-5 edge and forcing NKU to regroup.
A Quick Response Before the First Media
After that three-shot foul, NKU rattled off a short run fueled by better ball movement and transition chances. Dozier knocked down a three off Gherezgher’s assist, and the Norse flipped the momentum just in time for the first media timeout, taking a 13-12 lead.
Rakotonanahary Sparks the Run
The game flipped when Donovan Rakotonanahary checked in and immediately changed the energy. After an LJ Wells offensive rebound and and-one, NKU went to full-court pressure. Rakotonanahary helped create an easy steal, leading to another basket. Rakotonanahary grabbed another steal moments later, setting up a fast-break score for Donovan Oday as NKU started stacking points off turnovers. In the postgame interview with Jim Kelch and Rick Broering, Coach Horn talked about how he saw that stretch coming.
“We’re starting to get a feel for when we need something with a particular lineup. Donny R is a big part of that defensively. Those steals were big keys to our run.”
Norse Build Separation, Knights Counter Late
That defensive surge pushed NKU to a 40-30 lead with 2:40 left in the half. Bellarmine’s easy looks dried up, and nearly every mistake turned into Norse points. The Knights did manage one last push, trimming it back to 42-38 after a quick run, but Wells closed the half strong with a dunk. NKU went to the locker room up 44-38, having scored 14 points off turnovers and firmly established control through defense.
Second Half
A Defensive Look That Jumpstarts the Half
NKU came out sharper than it had in either of the two Horizon League games. On Bellarmine’s second possession, the Norse went to a 1-3-1 look that immediately paid off. A steal turned into an Ethan Elliott layup, and moments later another takeaway led to a Gherezgher three off Elliott’s assist. Just four minutes in, NKU had blown the game open to 56-42 by playing fast and forcing mistakes.
“That discipline in the second half was huge. We were aggressive, but we didn’t leave our feet, and that allowed us to make plays.”
Wells Finds His Confidence
As the pace picked up, LJ Wells found his rhythm. He stepped into a confident three and followed it with strong interior finishes. On the other end, Bellarmine’s primary scorer, Karasinski, started to hesitate. The pressure bothered him, forced tougher decisions, and stalled Bellarmine’s offense just enough for NKU to stay comfortably in front.
Bellarmine Pushes Back, NKU Answers
The Knights weren’t done. Two threes trimmed the lead to 10, but NKU responded exactly how it needed to. Defensive pressure forced a steal, Dozier cleaned up a miss with a putback dunk, and another Bellarmine turnover sent Doug Davenport into a timeout. Every time Bellarmine tried to gain traction, NKU answered with a play born from defense or toughness.
Zone Slows the Game and Tightens the Margin
Bellarmine’s zone finally disrupted NKU’s flow. The Norse stalled, missed free throws, and the Knights knocked down an open three to cut it to 69-62. Knights Hall came alive, and the margin suddenly felt fragile. Wells steadied things with a physical finish that could have gone either way, ruled an and-one on continuation, and then followed it with a strong post-up score to reassert control. A Dan Gherezgher steal and dunk pushed it back to 12 and bought NKU breathing room.
Late Chaos, Enough Composure
Bellarmine made one final push, cutting it to seven again with under two minutes left on a backdoor finish. The Knights intentionally fouled Elliott, who airballed the front end of a one-and-one. Next possession, Oday followed with a miss on the front end as well, giving Bellarmine a chance down five. The Knights missed two threes on the same possession, and when they fouled Oday again, he calmly knocked down both to push it back to 78-71. Wells’ offensive rebound on Oday's next trip to the free throw sealed it. The late free throw shooting was shaky, but the Norse closed just enough, walking out of Knights Hall with an 80-76 win.
Final Numbers and Takeaways
Steals, turnovers, and points off those turnovers ultimately decided the game. NKU finished with 23 points off turnovers and consistently turned Bellarmine mistakes into immediate pressure at the rim. The Norse scored 44 points in the paint, and that emphasis was intentional. NKU’s huddles were tracking layups and offensive rebound percentage at every timeout, and that paint-first mindset showed throughout the game.
Donovan Rakotonanahary was a major factor in forcing those turnovers and disrupting Bellarmine’s flow. He finished with three steals, but his impact went well beyond the box score. Each time he checked in, the defensive energy jumped. Rakotonanahary gives maximum effort at the point of attack in NKU’s fist defense, constantly guarding the ball. His length and activity against Bellarmine’s guards created real problems and fueled several of NKU’s most important runs.
Offensively, the balance stood out. Five Norse finished in double figures, with all four starters besides Ethan Elliott joining Donovan Oday in that group. Dozier and Oday bounced back after rough outings at Purdue Fort Wayne, and Dozier crossed 1,000 career points in the process. Dan Gherezgher’s three-point shot wasn’t falling consistently, but he stayed aggressive, repeatedly rising over Bellarmine’s guards to knock down tough mid-range jumpers. Kael Robinson continued to be automatic as a trail shooter, confidently stepping into top-of-the-key threes in transition.
LJ Wells controlled the interior. He played through contact, attacked Bellarmine’s bigs, and set the tone physically. The Knights’ crowd was vocal toward Wells throughout the game, but when the final buzzer sounded, he had the last word.
“No one bigger than LJ Wells down the stretch when we needed him. That’s the role we envision for him.”
Bellarmine’s Jack Karasinski led the Knights with 21 points, but NKU’s defensive pressure forced a noticeable lull. After scoring at the 9:13 mark of the first half, Karasinski went scoreless until 7:47 of the second half, a stretch of 21:26 of game time without a point.
There were still areas to clean up. Elliott’s offensive struggles continued, as he finished with three points on 1-of-5 shooting, missing two open threes and a wide-open layup. Most notably, his airballed free throw in the final two minutes forced NKU to sub him out, as Bellarmine was prepared to foul him repeatedly. To his credit, Elliott continued to take care of the ball, posting three assists against one turnover. Shawn Nelson did not appear in the game, marking the first time this season he did not see the floor.
Northern Kentucky’s Key Players
LJ Wells: 36 MIN, 17 PTS, 7-10 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-4 FT, 8 REB, 3 PF, 2 AST, 1 TO, 1 BLK, 2 STL
Dan Gherezgher: 35 MIN, 17 PTS, 7-15 FG, 2-8 3PT, 1-2 FT, 3 REB, 1 PF, 3 AST, 1 TO, 0 BLK, 2 STL
Kael Robinson: 22 MIN, 15 PTS, 6-9 FG, 3-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 REB, 4 PF, 2 AST, 3 TO, 0 BLK, 2 STL
Tae Dozier: 26 MIN, 12 PTS, 5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 0-1 FT, 1 REB, 4 PF, 3 AST, 1 TO, 0 BLK, 2 STL
Donovan Oday: 30 MIN, 13 PTS, 5-11 FG, 0-4 3PT, 3-5 FT, 6 REB, 2 PF, 2 AST, 1 TO, 0 BLK, 3 STL
Ethan Elliott: 28 MIN, 3 PTS, 1-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-3 FT, 3 REB, 0 PF, 3 AST, 1 TO, 0 BLK, 1 STL
Donovan Rakotonanahary: 17 MIN, 1 PTS, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, 3 REB, 1 PF, 2 AST, 1 TO, 0 BLK, 3 STL
Bellarmine’s Key Players
Jack Karasinski: 34 MIN, 21 PTS, 7-13 FG, 1-5 3PT, 6-6 FT, 8 REB, 3 PF, 1 AST, 2 TO, 1 BLK, 1 STL
Kenyon Goodin: 35 MIN, 15 PTS, 5-11 FG, 3-7 3PT, 2-2 FT, 5 REB, 4 PF, 3 AST, 3 TO, 0 BLK, 0 STL
Michael Wilson Jr.: 23 MIN, 14 PTS, 5-9 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3-3 FT, 2 REB, 0 PF, 0 AST, 3 TO, 0 BLK, 1 STL
Sam Donald: 26 MIN, 9 PTS, 3-7 FG, 3-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, 4 REB, 2 PF, 4 AST, 2 TO, 2 BLK, 1 STL
Brian Waddell: 37 MIN, 8 PTS, 4-8 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, 7 REB, 2 PF, 3 AST, 3 TO, 0 BLK, 0 STL
Donovan Hunter: 24 MIN, 3 PTS, 1-3 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, 1 REB, 3 PF, 3 AST, 1 TO, 0 BLK, 0 STL
Northern Kentucky
|
Bellarmine
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals (FG) | 32-63 (50.8%) | 27-54 (50.0%) |
| Three-Point FG (3PT) | 8-25 (32.0%) | 9-23 (39.1%) |
| Free Throws (FT) | 8-17 (47.1%) | 13-13 (100.0%) |
| Total Rebounds (Offensive) | 32 (12) | 32 (7) |
| Assists | 17 | 19 |
| Steals | 14 | 4 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 18 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 23 | 9 |
| Fast Break Points | 14 | 9 |
| Points in the Paint | 44 | 32 |
| Personal Fouls | 16 | 15 |
| Largest Lead | 18 | 7 |
Up Next- Oakland @ Truist Arena 7 pm
Northern Kentucky returns home Wednesday night for a conference matchup with Oakland, as Horizon League play continues to ramp up. The Golden Grizzlies are coming off a tough road loss at Northern Iowa, a top-100 opponent, and will be looking to regroup as they step into Truist Arena. Last season’s series was split, with both teams winning on the road, setting the stage for another tightly contested meeting. With league play settling in, Coach Darrin Horn emphasized the importance of the home environment:
“Conference play is going to be a war. We need a huge crowd at Truist Arena to get behind these guys and get us another conference win as we head into Christmas.”
