Statement Start: NKU Erupts for 126 Points in Season Opener
Northern Kentucky opened its 2025–26 season with an offensive showcase at Truist Arena, cruising past UC Clermont 126–69 to match the program’s single-game scoring record. The Norse dictated the tempo from the start, pushing the pace, sharing the basketball, and controlling the glass throughout the night. It was a complete performance on both ends of the floor, as NKU turned defensive pressure into transition opportunities and maintained focus from tip to finish. The win served as an emphatic season debut and a tune-up for a much steeper challenge ahead with a road trip to No. 18 Tennessee on Saturday. All quotes in this story are from head coach Darrin Horn’s postgame radio interview with Rick Broering and Jim Kelch.
First Half
Hot Start from Deep:
Northern Kentucky wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to an 8–0 lead behind three-pointers from Kael Robinson and Donovan Oday. Freshman point guard Ethan Elliott was active early, assisting on both triples and helping the Norse find rhythm through crisp ball movement.
Dominant Stretch:
After a brief UC Clermont response, NKU continued to pour it on. Robinson knocked down another three, Elliott added one of his own, and LJ Wells converted a three-point play to make it 31–8 midway through the half. The Norse controlled the glass and forced turnovers that led to transition buckets.
“We came out with great focus and kept it the whole first half,” said Head Coach Darrin Horn. “It’s easy to lose that in games like this, but our guys stayed locked in.”
Bench Impact:
Graduate guard Tae Dozier entered and immediately sparked the offense with a layup and a midrange jumper, while Ryan Tolliver and Bryce Darbyshire provided hustle plays to extend the margin.
Late Surge Before the Break:
With just under five minutes remaining, NKU ripped off another flurry, including a deep three from Robinson and a transition dunk by Wells, to push the lead past 30. Despite a few late threes from Clermont’s Austin Southerland, the Norse closed the half strong behind free throws from Dan Gherezgher to take a 63–28 advantage into the locker room.
Second Half
Fast Start Continues:
NKU picked up right where it left off. Oday and Elliott opened with back-to-back layups, and Robinson scored on three straight possessions, including a putback and a coast-to-coast finish, as the margin ballooned toward 50. Robinson finished with 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting in just 17 minutes.
“He was incredibly efficient, and the great part is he can still get even better,” Horn noted. “He’s got so much room to grow on the defensive end and as a rebounder.”
Relentless Pressure:
The Norse kept applying defensive heat, turning steals into instant offense. Oday, Elliott, and Shawn Nelson each recorded takeaways that led to easy scores. Nelson added a highlight sequence midway through the half with a steal and transition layup, fueling NKU’s 14–2 run that stretched the lead beyond 70.
Bench Takes Over:
Horn emptied the bench, and the reserves responded. Addison Archer and Dozier combined for a series of dunks, while Darbyshire and Tolliver controlled the glass. Redshirt freshman Donovan Rakotonanahary added energy and a tip-in late, showcasing NKU’s depth.
“This might be a group we can go nine or ten deep with,” Horn said. “We’ve got several guys who can come in and make positive plays.”
Closing Moments:
In the final minutes, senior walk-on Mitchel Minor drilled a corner three and followed it with a driving layup that brought the NKU bench to its feet. His teammates erupted off the bench as NKU capped a dominant 63-point second half to close out UC Clermont 126–69.
“That’s the kind of moment every locker room loves,” Horn said. “It says a lot about Mitchell, but also about this team and how much they root for each other.”
Overview and Team Stats:
The Norse controlled the game from the opening tip, as expected in a matchup against a Division II opponent. Kael Robinson caught fire early and never cooled off, setting the tone for an offense that looked sharp across the board. Six players finished in double figures, while the only starter who didn’t, freshman point guard Ethan Elliott, still contributed eight points and a game-high nine assists. Northern Kentucky tied a program record with 126 points and ranked as the sixth-highest scoring Division I team on college basketball’s opening night, an impressive feat despite going just 20-for-36 at the free-throw line.
Starters
LJ Wells: 21 MIN, 14 PTS, 4-10 FG, 1-3 3PT, 5-10 FT, 10 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK
Kael Robinson: 17 MIN, 22 PTS, 9-10 FG, 4-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 REB, 1 AST
Ethan Elliott: 23 MIN, 8 PTS, 3-4 FG, 2-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, 4 REB, 9 AST, 1 STL
Dan Gherezgher: 20 MIN, 18 PTS, 7-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-4 FT, 6 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL
Donovan Oday: 20 MIN, 15 PTS, 6-11 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-5 FT, 6 REB, 2 AST, 5 STL
Bench
Addison Archer: 17 MIN, 7 PTS, 2-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-4 FT, 6 REB, 1 AST
Shawn Nelson: 19 MIN, 13 PTS, 5-10 FG, 0-4 3PT, 3-4 FT, 3 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK
Ryan Tolliver: 13 MIN, 2 PTS, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-4 FT, 5 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK
Donovan Rakotonanahary: 10 MIN, 4 PTS, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, 4 REB, 0 AST, 1 BLK
Bryce Darbyshire: 18 MIN, 3 PTS, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-3 FT, 4 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL
Mitchel Minor: 3 MIN, 5 PTS, 2-2 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT
Tae Dozier: 19 MIN, 15 PTS, 7-10 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, 3 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK
Northern Kentucky
|
UC Clermont
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals (FG) | 47-76 (61.8%) | 24-73 (32.9%) |
| Three-Point FG (3PT) | 12-28 (42.9%) | 11-36 (30.6%) |
| Free Throws (FT) | 20-36 (55.6%) | 10-14 (71.4%) |
| Total Rebounds (Offensive) | 57 (22) | 24 (11) |
| Assists | 26 | 13 |
| Steals | 15 | 12 |
| Blocks | 5 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 18 | 22 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 31 | 16 |
| Fast Break Points | 32 | 13 |
| Points in the Paint | 68 | 24 |
| Personal Fouls | 17 | 22 |
| Largest Lead | 62 | 0 |
Up Next- @ Food City Center vs Tennessee 3 pm
NKU now shifts its focus to a major early-season test on Saturday at Tennessee, a top-20 team loaded with size, strength, and veteran experience. Horn called it a significant jump in competition and a valuable measuring stick for his group.
“It’s going to come down to how tough we are physically,” Horn said. “Can we rebound on both ends and take care of the basketball? If we can do that, we’ll give ourselves a chance to compete.”
A full breakdown of Tennessee will be released before Saturday’s game, so stay tuned.
