NKU Falls at Texas A&M, Foster Earns Freshman of the Week, Plus Saint Louis Preview and Scouting Report
Recap: NKU Falls 104-67
Northern Kentucky faced its toughest road test yet Friday night, and the matchup with Texas A&M got away from the Norse early. Texas A&M opened with an 11-0 run, built a 52-32 halftime lead and handed NKU its first loss, 104-67. The Aggies shot 61.1% in the first half and finished at 54.7% from the field (41-for-75), including 41.4% from three (12-for-29).
Turnovers made an already difficult matchup even tougher. NKU committed 23 giveaways, which Texas A&M converted into 35 points. The Aggies turned it over just nine times and allowed only six points off those mistakes. A&M also controlled the interior with a 56-22 advantage in paint points and outscored the Norse 37-9 off the bench. Although the rebounding totals were nearly even at 39-38 in A&M’s favor, the Aggies were more productive with their extra opportunities, winning second-chance points 19-9.
Willie Foster led NKU with 23 points and three made threes, while Eric Acker added 14 points and five assists. B.J. Davis-Ray scored 11 and went 3-for-5 from deep, but the Norse finished at just 34.5% from the field (20-for-58) and 29.2% from three (7-for-24). Noah Pagotto was limited to eight points and five rebounds in 22 minutes while dealing with first-half foul trouble. Will Shortt contributed four blocks.
NKU cut the deficit to 17 on Foster’s three with 9:51 remaining, but A&M answered with a 12-0 run to put the game out of reach. Jordan Pope paced six Aggies in double figures with 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting. The Norse fell to 2-1, with ball security and the ability to finish possessions defensively standing out as areas to address.
Horizon League Freshman of the Week
Willie Foster wasted no time making his mark at Northern Kentucky, earning Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors Monday after scoring at least 22 points in each of his first three college games. Foster opened with 24 points and 10 rebounds against UTEP, followed with 22 points in the win over South Dakota and added 23 at Texas A&M. He averaged 23.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 48.9% from the field, 38.9% from three and 94.7% at the free-throw line.
His 69 points led the nation in total scoring through the opening week. The Lima, Ohio native becomes the 13th NKU player to earn Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors.
Pregame Preview: Northern Kentucky (2-1) at Saint Louis (2-0)
Northern Kentucky faces another tough road test against a Saint Louis team that has impressed through its first two games. The Billikens opened with a 92-67 home win over Lehigh before beating Missouri 90-84 at a neutral site.
Saint Louis enters the matchup ranked No. 44 in KenPom, with experience and familiarity helping drive its strong start. The Billikens average nearly two years of Division I experience, ranking 72nd nationally, and sit 10th in minutes continuity. That stat measures how much a team’s playing time carries over from last season, using each returning player’s smaller share of minutes across the two seasons.
For NKU, the challenge starts with slowing down an offense that has scored efficiently at all three levels. Saint Louis ranks in the top 10 nationally in effective FG% and has the shortest average two-point attempt distance in the country, showing how consistently the Billikens generate looks near the basket. Pair that with a top-75 defense in adjusted efficiency, and the Norse have plenty to prepare for on both ends.
The scoring balance makes Saint Louis particularly difficult to defend. The Billikens have scored at least 90 points and put at least five players in double figures in each game, yet no player has scored more than 17. They have also assisted on 58% of their made field goals, an early indication of how well this group shares the ball and gets everyone involved.
The Billikens primarily play a five-out offense, keeping the paint clear rather than posting someone up inside. That spacing opens driving lanes and gives their ball handlers room to attack the rim.
Check out the full scouting report below for a closer look at the Billikens and what NKU will need to do to leave Saint Louis with a win.
Saint Louis's Scouting Report
★ = Starter of Previous Game
★ #1 Quentin Jones – Senior Guard, 6'5" 190 lbs – Chicago, IL / Marian Catholic
Previous School: Northern Illinois / Cal Poly
Season Averages: 31.0 MIN, 14.5 PTS, 2.5 REB, 4.0 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.5 BLK, 2.5 TO, 42.1 FG%, 72.7 FT%, 55.6 3PT%
Saint Louis’ leading scorer through two games, Jones is a scoring ball handler who prefers to create off the dribble. Making his finishes difficult around the rim will be important, as strong contests can force him into tough attempts and some wild misses.
Defensively, the sample size is small, but opponents have shot just 3-for-16 (18.8%) against him this season.
★ #3 Trey Green – Senior Guard, 6'0" 165 lbs – Charlotte, NC / Prolific Prep (CA)
Previous School: Xavier
Season Averages: 30.5 MIN, 13.0 PTS, 0.5 REB, 3.5 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.0 BLK, 1.5 TO, 50.0 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 38.5 3PT%
Green is a confident perimeter shooter with deep range who will let it fly if defenders give him room. He likes the step-back three, and 13 of his 20 shot attempts this season have come from beyond the arc. NKU will need to pick him up well beyond the three-point line and keep a hand up.
He frequently handles the ball in high pick-and-roll actions and is a capable driver when defenders pressure his outside shot. Taking away his shooting space is important, but the Norse will need to stay balanced and contain him when he attacks off the dribble.
★ #4 Amari McCottry – Junior Guard, 6'6" 210 lbs – Milwaukee, WI / St. Thomas More
Season Averages: 23.5 MIN, 13.5 PTS, 5.5 REB, 3.5 AST, 2.0 STL, 0.5 BLK, 1.5 TO, 66.7 FG%, 62.5 FT%, 100.0 3PT%
McCottry does most of his scoring around the rim, but he has knocked down both of his corner-three attempts this season. He is comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter before attacking and can finish with either hand around the basket.
Defensively, he has struggled to start the season. He tends to drift too far into the paint, leaving his assignment open for threes or forcing himself into late closeouts that opponents can attack for easy looks at the rim. He has allowed 23 points through two games, including 15 against Missouri. NKU should look to take advantage of those lapses with good spacing and quick decisions when the ball reaches his man.
★ #7 Alon Michaeli – Sophomore Forward, 6'9" 235 lbs – Kfar Saba, Israel / Bnei Hertzeliya
Previous School: Colorado
Season Averages: 21.0 MIN, 12.0 PTS, 7.5 REB, 4.0 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.0 BLK, 3.0 TO, 55.6 FG%, 60.0 FT%, 50.0 3PT%
Michaeli is a slashing forward who generates many of his scoring opportunities out of high-post screening actions. He likes to slip out of the screen, catch near the free-throw line and attack the rim with one or two dribbles.
He prefers to drive right, so NKU will need to be ready on the catch and take away that direct path to the basket.
★ #9 Ishan Sharma – Junior Forward, 6'5" 195 lbs – Milton, Ontario / Fort Erie International Academy
Previous School: Virginia
Season Averages: 28.5 MIN, 11.0 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.0 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.0 BLK, 0.0 TO, 58.3 FG%, 80.0 FT%, 44.4 3PT%
Sharma actively hunts threes and is comfortable taking difficult perimeter shots. Like Trey Green, he will fire if his defender’s hand is down.
Many of his looks come from flying off screens for catch-and-shoot opportunities. NKU’s communication will need to be sharp, with defenders clearly calling whether they are switching or staying with their assignments to avoid giving him clean looks.
Nine of his 12 shot attempts this season have come from three. His three attempts inside the arc have all resulted in baskets: two in transition and one on a drive against an overly aggressive closeout.
