Oday’s Fast Start, Wells’ Rebounding, and Elliott’s Steady Play Lift Norse in Exhibition vs DII Ashland 83-72
Northern Kentucky kicked off its lone public exhibition with a balanced 83–72 victory over Ashland at the University of Dayton Arena. Judging by the minutes distribution, the Norse approached this one like a regular-season game — with starters Ethan Elliott, Dan Gherezgher, Donovan Oday, Kael Robinson, and LJ Wells each averaging nearly 30 minutes. Tae Dozier led the bench unit, logging 23 minutes, while no other reserve played more than seven. Let’s take a look at how the game unfolded before breaking down what we saw from the Norse.
First Half
Hot Start from Deep:
Senior guard Donovan Oday opened the game on fire, knocking down three early three-pointers to give NKU a 13–7 lead at the first media timeout.
Ashland’s Pushback:
Ashland responded with a strong stretch led by Jordan Edwards and Maceo Williams, who combined for 15 first-half points and helped the Eagles briefly grab a 25–19 lead midway through the half.
Bench Sparks Momentum:
Graduate guard Tae Dozier provided an instant lift off the bench, scoring twice in transition and connecting from deep to energize the Norse offense. His fastbreak dunk with five minutes left cut the deficit to one, igniting a 10–0 NKU run.
Norse Close Strong:
Late free throws from Ethan Elliott and Addison Archer, followed by a corner three from Kael Robinson, pushed Northern Kentucky to a 44–38 halftime lead. NKU outscored Ashland 25–13 over the final seven minutes of the half.
Second Half
Maintaining Control:
NKU continued to rely on its inside game as LJ Wells and Kael Robinson combined for key buckets early in the half. A Wells layup and two Robinson free throws extended the lead to nine.
Dozier Dominates the Middle Stretch:
Dozier scored seven quick points, including a pull-up jumper and another transition bucket assisted by Ethan Elliott, to push the Norse ahead 63–52.
Defensive Tone Setters:
Northern Kentucky forced 17 turnovers and turned them into 19 points, with Oday and Elliott each recording multiple steals that turned into easy transition chances.
Closing Out the Win:
With under five minutes to play, Dan Gherezgher’s three-pointer pushed the lead back to double digits (76–62), effectively sealing the game. NKU’s reserves closed things out with some free-throws.
Key Player Stats – Northern Kentucky
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kael Robinson | 34 | 17 | 4-6 | 2-4 | 7-11 | 5 | 1 | – | – |
| Donovan Oday | 23 | 17 | 6-13 | 3-7 | 2-2 | 3 | – | 3 | – |
| Tae Dozier | 23 | 16 | 7-12 | 2-4 | – | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| LJ Wells | 31 | 9 | – | – | 5-8 | 16 (8 offensive) | 2 | – | 2 |
| Ethan Elliott | 34 | 9 | 2-7 | – | 5-8 | – | 7 | 4 | – |
| Dan Gherezgher | 27 | 7 | 3-10 | 1-3 | – | 3 | 1 | – | – |
Newcomers' Impact
Kael Robinson opened both halves for the Norse with strong finishes in the post. He was aggressive on the block throughout the night, consistently sealing his defender and earning trips to the free-throw line. Aside from missing all three attempts after being fouled on a three-pointer, Robinson was efficient at the stripe and provided a steady interior presence for NKU’s offense.
While he’s not the type to create his own shot on the perimeter, he’s comfortable catching and shooting open threes at a high percentage. Expect to see him take a fair number of trail threes from the top of the key when NKU’s transition opportunities don’t materialize and the defense relaxes for a second.
Donovan Oday provided an immediate spark for the Norse offense, scoring 11 points in the first five minutes of the game. His early success from three-point range opened driving lanes and allowed him to attack the rim more freely. While he missed a few finishes around the basket, his explosiveness and ability to create off the dribble suggest he’ll convert many more of those looks as the season progresses.
My biggest takeaway from this game is knowing how much Norse fans are going to enjoy watching Ethan Elliott this season. He took a charge attempt, dove on the floor for loose balls, and even delivered a no-look pass in transition that set up Tae Dozier for an easy finish at the rim. Although he went just 2-for-7 from the field against Ashland, Elliott filled the stat sheet with 7 assists, 4 steals, and 0 turnovers, while also drawing five fouls and earning four trips to the line. He may be a freshman on paper, but his poise and feel for the game are far beyond that. Both Oday and Elliott showed a willingness to attack the lane without hesitation, something that should earn them plenty of free-throw opportunities throughout the season.
The final newcomer to make an impact was Tae Dozier, who stepped into the sixth-man role and delivered 16 points in 23 minutes, along with six rebounds and two assists. He thrives in transition and will no doubt provide plenty of highlight-reel dunks throughout the season. Dozier’s length and activity on the perimeter also stand out as he’s capable of disrupting passing lanes and creating deflections that fuel NKU’s defense.
Mixed Night for the Returners
LJ Wells delivered what would have been a career-high 16 rebounds had this been a regular-season game. He was active on both ends of the floor, grabbing an even mix of offensive and defensive boards and accounting for 41% of NKU’s total rebounds. Wells remains the Norse’s primary force on the glass, but the question moving forward is who will shoulder that workload when he’s off the floor. Expect it to most likely be a collective effort from Addison Archer, Tae Dozier, and Kael Robinson.
LJ Wells also came up with a huge transition block after Dan Gherezgher was pressured and turned the ball over. The play flipped momentum, leading to a fast-break three from Tae Dozier and resulting in a five-point swing for the Norse. Overall, it was a quiet night for Gherezgher, who missed a couple of early looks (0-for-2 in the first half) and didn’t score until under nine minutes remained in the game. He experienced some early-season struggles last year as well, so avoiding another slow start will be key for him moving forward.
Defensive Struggles
NKU had its share of defensive struggles, which is expected when integrating nine new players into a complex defensive system. There’s naturally a learning curve compared to teams that primarily play straight man-to-man. Early on, the coaching staff is also experimenting with different lineup combinations to see which groups mesh best on that end. The Norse eventually found some defensive rhythm late in the first half, creating impact deflections that turned into steals and fast-break opportunities.
