NKU 90, Central Michigan 66 | Nov 20, 2025
NKU went into Mount Pleasant on Thursday night and dominated from start to finish, turning a projected tight game into a statement road win.
The Norse, who came into the game as 4-point underdogs per KenPom and facing the 258th-slowest tempo team in the country, completely flipped the script by turning this into a track meet. Once the game got rolling, the numbers on paper didn’t matter — NKU controlled the pace, the glass, and the perimeter en route to their first Division I win of the season.
With the win, NKU moves forward with momentum and will now turn its attention to Eastern Kentucky next Monday at Truist Arena. Central Michigan, meanwhile, falls to 2–3 and has a brutal quick turnaround with a trip to Marquette on Saturday.
Tempo, Turnovers, and Threes
This matchup was completely dictated by NKU’s ability to run and score in transition.
- Fast break points: NKU 25, CMU 0
- Turnovers: NKU 11, CMU 19
- Points off turnovers: NKU 26, CMU 9
Every time CMU missed a shot or got loose with the ball, a Norse player was ready to push. NKU consistently turned defense into offense, sprinting the floor and punishing the Chippewas before their defense could get set.
From the perimeter, the Norse were equally impressive:
- NKU from 3: 13–27 (48%)
- CMU from 3: 5–17 (29%)
NKU’s shooting opened the floor, and when combined with their transition attack, CMU simply couldn’t keep up.
Just as important was how unselfish the Norse were offensively. NKU finished with 26 assists on 34 made baskets, routinely passing up good shots for great ones. That unselfishmentality allowed their offense to find a rhythm early and never really lose it.
Key Performances
NKU featured a balanced effort with four players in double figures and a trio more between 5–9 points.
- Donovan Oday: 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers
- Led the way with a strong all-around performance and was in attack mode all night.
- Kael Robinson: 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers
- LJ Wells: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul
- This was his most complete games of the season. For those who have followed my work, I’ve highlighted LJ’s foul issues as a major area of concern. Tonight, he completely flipped that narrative, staying disciplined, staying on the floor, and impacting the game in every phase.
- Dan Gherezgher: 13 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover
- Dan filled it up again, but did so on 5–14 shooting from the field and 3–8 from deep. For NKU to keep elevating, his shot selection still needs to tighten up, even on a night where the team as a whole was rolling.
- Tae Dozier: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
- In my post-ETSU breakdown, I stressed the need for role players to step up. Tae did exactly that tonight, impacting the game all over the floor and giving NKU another reliable two-way presence.
- Nelson & Elliott: 7 points each
- Nelson provided more depth in the scoring column, while Elliott was massive as a playmaker and defender, adding 8 assists and 3 steals. His importance to this team continues to be impossible to overstate.
Big Picture
NKU improves to 3–2, and honestly, the Norse are right on track with preseason expectations. This stretch of the schedule was always about laying the foundation, and so far, they’ve shown steady growth each time out. But the real tests are coming. Over the next couple of weeks, NKU will face the type of competition that will reveal exactly where this team stands heading into conference play in December.
Dominating a team like CMU on the road matters — not just because it’s NKU’s first Division I win, but because it shows they can impose their style, dictate pace, and close out a game wire to wire. Still, tougher Horizon League opponents are waiting, and the Norse will need to continue sharpening the details: shot selection, defensive rotations, and consistency from the supporting cast.
If NKU builds on performances like this, they’ll enter December with real momentum and a clearer picture of their ceiling. The next few games will tell us a lot.
What’s Next
NKU now has a few days to reset before a big in-state home matchup:
- Next up: Eastern Kentucky at Truist Arena on Monday
- Then: A packed week with games on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
My schedule has finally opened up, and I’ll be live from Truist Arena on Monday to bring you full coverage of NKU vs. EKU and everything happening around the Norse during this busy stretch.
Make sure you’re following @bracketNKY on your favorite social platform and subscribe to this site so you get all of my work straight to your inbox — it’s going to be a big week for NKU, and I’ll have you covered every step of the way.
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