NKU 77
Purdue Fort Wayne 79
Northern Kentucky entered Saturday afternoon on a six-game winning streak, looking to continue its strong start to Horizon League play. Purdue Fort Wayne, however, did not let it get to seven.
The Norse dominated the opening 20 minutes, building a commanding 44–29 halftime lead. NKU shot 44% from three, took care of the basketball, and controlled the tempo throughout the first half. Dan Gherezgher led the way with 14 points, while Kael Robinson and LJ Wells chipped in 11 apiece.
Despite the lopsided score at the break, the Mastodons never folded. Robinson converted an and-one layup just 1:37 into the second half to push NKU’s lead to 47–33, but from that point on, everything unraveled.
Northern Kentucky went ice cold offensively, surrendering a devastating 20–0 Purdue Fort Wayne run that flipped the game on its head. The Mastodons grabbed a 49–47 lead with 14:17 remaining. NKU finally snapped the drought at the 12:50 mark, but the struggles continued, with the Norse failing to hit another field goal until Gherezgher knocked down a three at 8:53.
From there, neither team led by more than five points, yet NKU was never able to reclaim control. Purdue Fort Wayne executed down the stretch and held on for a hard-fought 79–77 victory.
Key Takeaways
Second-Half Carelessness Cost NKU
The Norse committed just six turnovers in the first half but unraveled in the second, finishing with 18 giveaways. While NKU forced PFW into 18 turnovers, they lost the points-off-turnovers battle 28–18. This has been a recurring theme—NKU forces turnovers at an elite rate, but the lack of conversion continues to be a glaring issue. Saturday should serve as a clear wake-up call.
Missed Opportunities on the Offensive Glass
NKU grabbed 14 offensive rebounds yet turned them into just 12 second-chance points—simply not good enough. On nights when shots aren’t falling, production off the glass has to be more efficient.
Dan Gherezgher Is Emerging as the Offensive Engine
Gherezgher was sensational, pouring in a game-high 37 points on 7–14 shooting from three and 8–19 from the field, while also adding seven rebounds and a steal. He went a perfect 4–4 from the free-throw line. While his five turnovers (to just two assists) must be cleaned up, Dan is clearly showing the ability to be NKU’s best player on any given night.
Kael Robinson’s Steady Growth Continues
Robinson followed up another solid outing with 26 points and seven rebounds. Even without a hot shooting night from deep (2–8), he applied constant pressure by attacking the rim, earning eight free-throw attempts and converting all of them. His consistency is becoming valuable.
Consistent Depth Remains a Concern
Outside of Gherezgher, Robinson, and LJ Wells, NKU’s entire roster combined for just 10 points. While those three carried the offensive workload, sustainable success requires consistent contributions elsewhere. This issue has surfaced too often to ignore.
Rare Off Night for Donovan Oday
Oday, typically one of NKU’s most reliable contributors, struggled mightily in Fort Wayne. He finished with four points on 1–7 shooting and 0–4 from three, adding three rebounds, two blocks, and three turnovers in 23 minutes. His shot never seemed to find rhythm, but this performance is best viewed as an outlier.
Ethan Elliott Remains a Question Mark
Ethan Elliott dished out a strong 10 assists but failed to score, going 0–6 from the field in 30 minutes. While his defense and distribution are valuable, NKU will need more scoring threat from the starting point guard position moving forward.
Final Thoughts
This was a frustrating loss for a Norse team that allowed an opponent they’re better than to climb back into—and ultimately win—a very winnable game. NKU’s offense went stagnant in uncharacteristic fashion, and the lack of second-half execution proved costly.
The key now is response.
Up Next
NKU returns home to host Brescia (Non-DI) on Tuesday, December 9, with tip set for 7:00 PM. The Norse then head to Louisville to take on Bellarmine next Saturday at 2:00 PM.
I’ll be on-site for both and will have you covered—make sure you’re subscribed below!
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