First Impressions from NKU’s Exhibition Opener
NKU fans got their first look at a largely new group Wednesday night as the Norse welcomed UT Martin to Truist Arena for their first public exhibition. There were new faces to get familiar with, a few encouraging flashes and plenty still to work through. Eric Acker’s scoring and Willie Foster’s energy stood out, and a late comeback gave the crowd something to get behind, but UT Martin held on for an 83-79 win.
First Half
New Faces Provide Some Flashes, but NKU Still Finding Its Rhythm
NKU opened its first public exhibition with a 5-0 start, but the first half against UT Martin quickly became a mix of encouraging individual moments and things this new group still needs to clean up.
Willie Foster provided a little of both. His perimeter pressure helped force a turnover, and he put together one of the more encouraging sequences of the half. NKU worked the ball inside, kicked it out and swung it around to Foster for a three. He missed, but Ethan Elliott tracked down the long rebound and found him again. Foster didn’t hesitate on the second chance and knocked it down.
On the next possession, Foster recovered from behind for a block with Juanma Ruiz helping on the play. The activity was there. Staying on the floor was the issue, as Foster picked up three fouls in just four minutes.
NKU’s transition defense was less encouraging early. UT Martin found opportunities but did not cash in on every look. The Norse weren’t always getting back and matched up, and the missed finishes helped keep those breakdowns from becoming a bigger problem.
Finding Some Life Through Drives and Defensive Pressure
Will Shortt delivered a strong drive and finish just before the under-12 timeout, while BJ Davis-Ray showed his ability to work through traffic for a basket and added a putback. With outside shots mostly refusing to fall, those opportunities around the basket mattered.
One of NKU’s best defensive possessions came ahead of the under-eight timeout. Elliott communicated a switch, Davis-Ray cut off the drive, and the Norse kept UT Martin from getting comfortable. When the Skyhawks finally tried to move the ball to the other side of the floor, the pressure helped force an errant pass and a turnover.
That was a glimpse of what this group can look like when the communication and individual effort come together.
Acker Gives the Norse a Lift
Eric Acker looked increasingly comfortable as the half went along. His three pushed him to 12 points with about five minutes remaining, and he followed with a leaping steal that sparked a Shortt basket. For that stretch, Acker was putting his fingerprints on the game at both ends.
Gabrielius Jokubauskas offered another encouraging look with his shooting. His quick release stood out on the three that tied things at 29-29. He also found points at the foul line during a half that had plenty of whistles, with both teams in the bonus by the seven-minute mark.
NKU couldn’t carry that push into the break, though. UT Martin took a 37-31 lead into halftime, with the Norse’s pressure creating opportunities but cold shooting and second-chance points conceded making it difficult to take control.
Second Half
Foster Provides a Spark, but UT Martin Builds Its Lead
After foul trouble limited his first-half minutes, Willie Foster got a chance to show more of what he can do. He finished at the rim, found Gabrielius Jokubauskas for an inside-out three and added another finish on the break. There was a willingness to attack, but also an ability to recognize when someone else had the better look.
Those were encouraging moments from the freshman, but NKU still couldn’t string together enough stops to take control. UT Martin pushed its lead to 62-50 with just under ten minutes remaining, leaving the Norse with some work to do.
Pagotto Makes UT Martin Rethink Its Post Defense
Noah Pagotto started finding room to work when UT Martin backed away from doubling him in the post. With a little more space and only one defender to deal with, he made scoring inside look pretty straightforward.
His finish through contact cut the deficit to three, and it felt like only a matter of time before the extra defender came back. Foster followed with the kind of effort that helps a comeback along, getting to the floor first and forcing a held ball that gave NKU possession on the arrow.
UT Martin brought the double back, and Acker knocked down a three around the six-minute mark as the Norse continued pushing. But the same pressure caused problems on a later possession, forcing a turnover that became a dunk at the other end. Just like that, NKU was back down nine and calling timeout with less than five minutes left.
Acker’s Shot-Making and Some Floor Burns Bring NKU Back
Out of the timeout, NKU went to an isolation for Foster. His attempt was blocked, but the Norse recovered the offensive rebound to keep the possession alive. Nothing was coming particularly easily, but they kept giving themselves chances.
Acker remained the guy NKU could turn to for a big shot. He buried another three to cut the margin to two, part of a 24-point night in which he consistently looked comfortable taking on the scoring responsibility.
On the next possession, Will Shortt fully committed to a loose ball, diving onto the floor and helping NKU come away with it. Between that play and Foster’s earlier scramble, the Norse were finding ways to extend the comeback beyond simply making shots.
NKU eventually tied it at the foul line, then put together a defensive possession that had UT Martin going nowhere for almost the entire shot clock. The Skyhawks still managed to flip in a basket just before it expired. That one hurt after the Norse had done so much right defensively.
UT Martin Makes Enough Plays to Finish
Foster fouled out pursuing a missed free throw with 1:32 remaining, ending an active second half in which his scoring and effort helped give NKU a chance.
BJ Davis-Ray knocked down a difficult long two out of a timeout to keep the Norse in it, but they couldn’t quite get over the top. Acker also fouled out with 25 seconds left, taking NKU’s most reliable scorer off the floor for the final push.
UT Martin handled the closing stretch and finished off an 83-79 win. NKU showed some fight in erasing a 12-point deficit over the final ten minutes, but the Skyhawks made enough plays late to keep the comeback from becoming a win.
Final Numbers and Takeaways
NKU opened with the following starting five:
- #2 Eric Acker
- #6 Ethan Elliott
- #7 Will Shortt
- #9 BJ Davis-Ray
- #13 Noah Pagotto
The Norse played 12 players and worked through plenty of different lineup combinations, especially in the first half. This was an opportunity to see how different pieces fit together, and the rotation reflected that.
There was also a change in the numbers NKU emphasized during timeouts. Last season, the focus was offensive rebounding % and defensive deflections. This year, it is paint touches on offense and possessions without a paint touch on defense.
The idea is straightforward: getting the ball into the paint creates options. That could mean a drive to the rim, a post finish or a kickout to an open shooter. A paint touch forces the defense to react and can create a better look even when the shot ultimately comes from outside.
Defensively, NKU wants to prevent those same opportunities. Keep the ball on the perimeter, limit easy looks around the basket and make opponents generate offense without first breaking down the defense in the paint.
Noah Pagotto got an early introduction to the attention he could draw in the post this season. UT Martin doubled him from the start, making it difficult for him to get comfortable offensively. He went scoreless in the first half but scored all 10 of his points after the break. Once the Skyhawks backed off the double, he found easier looks around the rim and started to settle in. They eventually brought the extra defender back, and that pressure helped produce a costly late turnover.
The two biggest individual takeaways were Acker and Willie Foster. When Foster stayed on the floor for longer stretches in the second half, he made things happen. His athleticism looked right at home at this level, whether he was finishing in transition, recovering defensively or getting to a loose ball. Despite playing just 16 minutes, he finished with 13 points, two rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist. Staying out of foul trouble will give him more opportunities to put those tools to use.
Acker looked comfortable throughout the game. He played under control offensively and showed he could score in several ways, knocking down jumpers, attacking the basket and getting out in transition. He finished with 24 points on 8-12 shooting and added three steals. For a first public look, he gave NKU fans plenty to like.
Injury Note: Ryan Tolliver took a hard fall while pursuing a rebound with about five minutes remaining in the first half. He appeared to hit his head on the court, left the floor rubbing his head and did not return to the game.
