Northern Kentucky Defeats Cleveland State 81-70
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Wolstein Center
Northern Kentucky Norse 81, Cleveland State Vikings 70, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Northern Kentucky Norse vs Cleveland State Vikings?
Northern Kentucky Norse beat Cleveland State Vikings 81-70 at Wolstein Center on February 25, 2026.
Who was favored in Northern Kentucky Norse vs Cleveland State Vikings?
Northern Kentucky Norse were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -410 (about 80% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Northern Kentucky Norse defeated the Cleveland State Vikings 81-70 at the Wolstein Center. This victory underscores Northern Kentucky's stronger season, as they entered the game with an 18-12 record compared to Cleveland State's 10-20. The Norse were favored by 8.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total set at 166.5 points.
Cleveland State has struggled recently, finishing their last ten games with a record of 5-5 but on a five-game losing streak. They averaged 83.5 points scored while allowing 87.2 points per game over that stretch. Their recent form shows a concerning trend, particularly in their last five games where they averaged 80.0 points scored and 93.4 points allowed. At home, their record stood at 2-3, with a recent loss to Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on February 22, where they lost 86-92.
In contrast, Northern Kentucky has had a mixed performance, going 4-6 in their last ten games and currently on a one-game losing streak. They averaged 78.7 points scored and 78.2 points allowed in that span. Their away record was notably weaker, at 1-4, but they managed to secure a victory against Purdue Fort Wayne on February 19, winning 87-71.
The two teams have faced each other four times in the last two seasons, with the record standing at 2-2. In their most recent meeting on December 4, 2025, Northern Kentucky triumphed over Cleveland State with a score of 95-80. Earlier in the 2025 season, Cleveland State had managed to win at home, 68-63, showcasing their ability to compete in this rivalry.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details affecting either team, but the absence of key players can often impact a game’s outcome significantly.
The conditions at the Wolstein Center were conducive to a competitive game, and viewers saw a strong performance from Northern Kentucky, particularly in the second half. Key moments included Josiah Harris making critical free throws and Jaidon Lipscomb contributing with a series of baskets to maintain the lead. The Norse's ability to capitalize on free throws late in the game solidified their victory.
Overall, the game reflected the contrasting fortunes of the two teams this season, with Northern Kentucky continuing to assert their dominance over Cleveland State.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NKU -8.5 | 166.5 o -105 / u -115 | Northern Kentucky Norse -410 · Cleveland State Vikings +320 |
Leaders
- PointsPreist Ryan20Cleveland State Vikings
- AssistsJosiah Harris5Cleveland State Vikings
- ReboundsPreist Ryan10Cleveland State Vikings
- PointsLJ Wells24Northern Kentucky Norse
- AssistsEthan Elliott8Northern Kentucky Norse
- ReboundsLJ Wells12Northern Kentucky Norse
Recent form
Cleveland State Vikings
Last 10: 5-5Streak L583.5 scored · 87.2 allowed per game2-3 at home
- L86-92vs Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsFeb 22
- L82-106at Youngstown State PenguinsFeb 18
- L90-102vs Wright State RaidersFeb 15
- L68-85vs Robert Morris ColonialsFeb 13
- L74-82at IU Indianapolis JaguarsFeb 7
- W91-78vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesFeb 5
- W90-88at Milwaukee PanthersFeb 1
- W89-82at Green Bay PhoenixJan 31
- W85-79at Wright State RaidersJan 22
- W80-78vs Youngstown State PenguinsJan 17
Northern Kentucky Norse
Last 10: 4-6Streak L178.7 scored · 78.2 allowed per game1-4 away
- L58-64at Youngstown State PenguinsFeb 22
- W87-71vs Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsFeb 19
- W84-81at IU Indianapolis JaguarsFeb 12
- W67-62vs Milwaukee PanthersFeb 7
- L84-87vs Green Bay PhoenixFeb 5
- L65-76at Oakland Golden GrizzliesFeb 1
- L77-90at Detroit Mercy TitansJan 31
- L80-88at Wright State RaidersJan 24
- L89-92vs Robert Morris ColonialsJan 18
- W96-71vs Detroit Mercy TitansJan 16
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright State | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Robert Morris | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Green Bay | 18-15 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Detroit Mercy | 17-15 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Oakland | 16-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 17-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Northern Kentucky | 20-14 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Youngstown State | 15-17 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Milwaukee | 12-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Cleveland State | 11-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| IU Indianapolis | 7-25 | 12 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Northern Kentucky Norse | Cleveland State Vikings |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-51 | 24-60 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 40 |
| Three-pointers | 10-28 | 5-24 |
| Three-point % | 36 | 21 |
| Free throws | 19-26 | 17-21 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 81 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 31 | 22 |
| Assists | 17 | 11 |
| Steals | 7 | 2 |
| Blocks | 5 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 38 |
| Fouls | 22 | 24 |
| Largest lead | 24 | 0 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 97 | 0 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half57-38Kamari Jones makes layup (Josiah Harris assists)
- 2nd Half58-38Kael Robinson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-40Preist Ryan makes 1-foot dunk (Kamari Jones assists)
- 2nd Half61-40Tae Dozier makes 24-foot three point jumper (LJ Wells assists)
- 2nd Half63-40Bryce Darbyshire makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half63-42Chevalier Emery makes layup
- 2nd Half63-44Josiah Harris makes layup
- 2nd Half63-45Josiah Harris makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half63-46Preist Ryan makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-48Tre Beard makes layup (Chevalier Emery assists)
- 2nd Half64-48Kael Robinson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-48Kael Robinson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-50Preist Ryan makes 1-foot dunk (Tre Beard assists)
- 2nd Half66-50Donovan Oday makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-50Donovan Oday makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-52Preist Ryan makes layup
- 2nd Half68-52LJ Wells makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-54Chevalier Emery makes driving layup
- 2nd Half70-54Dan Gherezgher makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half71-54LJ Wells makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-54LJ Wells makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-55Chevalier Emery makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-56Chevalier Emery makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-56LJ Wells makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-59Jaidon Lipscomb makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half75-59LJ Wells makes layup
- 2nd Half75-60Chevalier Emery makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-61Chevalier Emery makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-61LJ Wells makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-61LJ Wells makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-61Donovan Oday makes driving layup
- 2nd Half79-62Josiah Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-63Josiah Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-65Jaidon Lipscomb makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half79-66Jaidon Lipscomb makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half80-66LJ Wells makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half81-66LJ Wells makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-67Jaidon Lipscomb makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half81-68Jaidon Lipscomb makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-70Manny Hill makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Cleveland State Vikings, below favours Northern Kentucky Norse.
Venue
- Wolstein CenterCleveland, OH
- Attendance2458
- OfficialsAndy O'Brien, Sutton Simon, Aran Hart
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond