LJ Wells’ Historic Night Powers the Norse Over the Titans

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January 16, 2026

NKU 96 | Detroit Mercy 71

1/15/2026, Truist Arena, Highland Heights, KY

LJ Wells went absolutely berserk. His career high. The 3rd Norse ever to score 35+ in their D1 history. Tonight’s performance also tied the lead in the Horizon league this year.

NKU jumped out to a quick 10-0 run and then Detroit followed with a 7-0 run. However, after that, NKU jumped back out to a lead, keeping Detroit at arms length, leading by multiple possessions for most of the half. Detroit made a run with 6:00 remaining to get the game back to 2 points, however, after the game was 36-34, NKU rattled off a 16-3 run to go into the half with a 15 point lead.

The second half was absolutely dominated by the Norse, who never let the game get any closer than 12 points. NKU started to empty the bench with 3:29 remaining and NKU leading 91-64.

On his birthday, NKU’s Addison Archer closed the game out with a 3 from the top of the key. Both the players and coaches immediately smiled. In the postgame presser, coach mentioned that Archer was one of those guys who it’s just easy to cheer for because of how he carries himself and the energy he brings.

The Norse performance tonight was relatively eye-opening, mainly because this Detroit Mercy team came into this one playing well. They almost beat Robert Morris and lost by just 2 points last Friday to Wright State. Coming into the game, the Titans were one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the Horizon. However, NKU was able to hold them off tonight and not allow the Titans to dominate down low.

The Norse are not a good team on the defensive rebounding side of things, and tonight I thought that would present trouble for them; despite giving up 20 second chance points off of 15 offensive rebounds, NKU really held their own in the paint, winning the overall scoring battle in the paint 44-38. NKU also took care of the glass, with a 40-38 advantage.

The Norse did, however, lose the turnover battle, coughing the ball up 9 times, and forcing just 7 turnovers. Detroit led in points off turnovers 11-10.

Player Performances:

LJ Wells, as mentioned, took care of business tonight, going for 35.7.3. He had just 1 turnover and did add 3 assists. Postgame, LJ added that Coach Horn had gotten onto him and told him he needed to get more aggressive and focus on physicality. He did just that tonight.

Dan Gherezgher had and efficient 15 points, 6 boards and 3 assists.

Donovan Oday added 15 points, 1 rebound, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. He did have 3 turnovers.

Kael Robinson added in 10 points on a 4-7 night. He had 4 boards and 1 assist.

Donovan Rakotonanahary had 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist. He was 4-4 from the field and was able to give the team great minutes with high energy. More on him below.

Postgame thoughts:

“Really proud of tonight. We were really concerned about this game. This was the best offensive rebounding team in the HL” – Coach Horn’s opening statement.

Next thing that coach said was LJ’s physicality led the way, which led to his 35, he felt this was a bit of a quiet performance.

Coach Horn on his message after Sunday’s loss: “Monday wasn’t easy, guys got called out, felt like the performance was subpar overall and they refocused on how to play best as a team”.

Glue Guys:

Much of the attention surrounding this NKU team understandably centers on Donovan Oday, Dan Gherezgher, LJ Wells, and Kael Robinson. Those are the names most often highlighted by media members—and deservedly so. However, a closer look at the Norse’s recent success reveals the growing impact of several “glue guys” who are quietly pushing this team forward.

Tae Dozier’s Consistency
Tae Dozier continues to be one of the most reliable connective pieces in the rotation. On the season, he is averaging 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while adding 2 steals and a block. Just as important, he turns the ball over only once per game despite playing 26 minutes per night.

Tonight was a perfect encapsulation of his value. Dozier filled the stat sheet with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, committing just one turnover in 32 minutes. His raw athleticism, defensive versatility, and ability to impact the game without demanding touches make him an ideal fifth starter. He does a little bit of everything, and his presence consistently stabilizes the lineup.

Ethan Elliott Watch
Head coach Horn tonight pointed out that Ethan Elliott came into tonight with a 10:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in league play—a staggering number when you consider that, per Horn, a 3:1 ratio qualifies as elite guard play.

Nationally, Elliott ranks 154th in assist rate at 27.1% while posting a turnover rate of just 18.3%. Those metrics are extremely valuable, particularly for a Horizon League guard who transferred in this season. Despite some criticism from the fan base, Elliott has been excellent at what NKU desperately needed: ball security and offensive organization.

Over the last six games, Elliott has totaled 34 assists against just four turnovers. While his scoring remains inconsistent, his overall impact is undeniable. He is also contributing three rebounds and just over one steal per game, further reinforcing his all-around value to this roster.

Donovan Rakotonanahary’s Surge
Donovan Rakotonanahary has begun carving out a meaningful role in Horizon League play by providing energy-filled minutes off the bench. While foul trouble has been an issue—he has fouled out twice since the calendar flipped to 2026—his athleticism and effort have been invaluable.

Over the last seven games, Rakotonanahary is averaging 17.3 minutes per contest, a clear indicator of growing trust from the coaching staff. His contributions may not always show up in the box score, but his ability to spell Kael Robinson and LJ Wells without a significant drop-off has been critical. That sustained energy and defensive presence are quietly elevating NKU’s rotation depth.