Northern Kentucky Dominates Milwaukee in NCAAB Showdown
Friday, January 9, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
Northern Kentucky Norse 85, Milwaukee Panthers 67, 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 Milwaukee Panthers?
Northern Kentucky Norse beat Milwaukee Panthers 85-67 at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on January 9, 2026.
Who was favored in Northern Kentucky Norse vs Milwaukee Panthers?
Milwaukee Panthers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -135 (about 57% implied). The underdog won.
In a decisive matchup, the Northern Kentucky Norse defeated the Milwaukee Panthers with a final score of 85 to 67 at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. This victory marks Northern Kentucky's continued success in the season, improving their record to 14-5, while Milwaukee drops to 7-11. The game showcased Northern Kentucky's offensive prowess, particularly in the second half, where they outscored Milwaukee significantly.
Northern Kentucky entered the game with a strong recent form, boasting a record of 7-3 in their last ten games and riding a three-game winning streak. They averaged 82.3 points scored per game while allowing 74.8 points. Their recent victories included a 94-79 win against Youngstown State and an 81-72 win over IU Indianapolis. In contrast, Milwaukee had struggled recently, with a record of 5-5 over their last ten games, currently on a three-game losing streak. They averaged 80.0 points scored but allowed 76.5 points, indicating a defensive vulnerability that Northern Kentucky exploited.
At home, Milwaukee had a record of 4-1, but their recent form shows a decline, with their last five games resulting in a 2-3 record. Northern Kentucky, on the other hand, had a solid away record of 2-1, demonstrating their ability to compete outside their home venue. This fixture was particularly interesting as Northern Kentucky had previously defeated Milwaukee in both of their meetings during the 2025 season, with scores of 92-70 and 79-59.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide any specific details affecting either team, suggesting that both squads were at full strength for this matchup. The betting market was relatively close, with DraftKings setting the odds at Milwaukee -1.5, indicating a competitive expectation for the game. The total points line was set at 157.5, reflecting an anticipated high-scoring affair.
The game conditions were favorable for basketball, with no adverse weather or venue issues reported. Fans could expect an exciting display of offensive talent, particularly from Northern Kentucky, who demonstrated their scoring ability throughout the game. Key moments included Kael Robinson's impressive three-point shooting, contributing to the Norse's scoring surge in the second half. Robinson's performance, along with Stevie Elam's contributions, highlighted Northern Kentucky's depth and scoring options.
Overall, this matchup served as a reminder of Northern Kentucky's strength in the league and Milwaukee's ongoing struggles. The final score reflected the disparity in performance, with Northern Kentucky firmly establishing themselves as a formidable opponent in the NCAAB landscape.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MILW -1.5 | 157.5 o -110 / u -110 | Northern Kentucky Norse +114 · Milwaukee Panthers -135 |
Leaders
- PointsStevie Elam16Milwaukee Panthers
- AssistsIsaiah Dorceus3Milwaukee Panthers
- ReboundsStevie Elam7Milwaukee Panthers
- PointsKael Robinson29Northern Kentucky Norse
- AssistsEthan Elliott8Northern Kentucky Norse
- ReboundsTae Dozier10Northern Kentucky Norse
Recent form
Milwaukee Panthers
Last 10: 5-5Streak L380 scored · 76.5 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L76-79at Green Bay PhoenixJan 6
- L70-76at Wright State RaidersJan 1
- L60-80at Wisconsin BadgersDec 31
- W77-55vs Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsDec 30
- W81-71at Cleveland State VikingsDec 21
- W88-87vs South Dakota State JackrabbitsDec 19
- L68-70vs Indiana State SycamoresDec 14
- W74-72vs Robert Morris ColonialsDec 7
- L81-105at Akron ZipsNov 30
- W125-70vs Dominican (IL) DominicanNov 26
Northern Kentucky Norse
Last 10: 7-3Streak W382.3 scored · 74.8 allowed per game2-1 away
- W94-79vs Youngstown State PenguinsJan 4
- W81-72vs IU Indianapolis JaguarsJan 1
- W79-77at Robert Morris ColonialsDec 30
- L74-85vs Charleston CougarsDec 21
- L77-82vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesDec 18
- W80-76at Bellarmine KnightsDec 13
- W92-53vs Brescia BearcatsDec 10
- L77-79at Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsDec 6
- W95-80vs Cleveland State VikingsDec 4
- W74-65vs Boston University TerriersNov 29
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 | Milwaukee Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-65 | 25-56 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 14-39 | 6-24 |
| Three-point % | 36 | 25 |
| Free throws | 13-16 | 11-19 |
| Free throw % | 81 | 58 |
| Rebounds | 43 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 18 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 19 |
| Assists | 19 | 11 |
| Steals | 7 | 4 |
| Blocks | 1 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 20 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 28 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 34 |
| Fouls | 16 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 22 | 1 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 95 | 4 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half45-33Josh Dixon makes driving layup
- 1st Half47-33Dan Gherezgher makes driving layup
- 1st Half47-35Danilo Jovanovich makes driving layup (Isaiah Dorceus assists)
- 1st Half50-35Donovan Oday makes 25-foot three point jumper (LJ Wells assists)
- 1st Half52-35Tae Dozier makes 1-foot dunk (Ethan Elliott assists)
- 1st Half55-35Kael Robinson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Tae Dozier assists)
- 1st Half55-36Stevie Elam makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half55-37Stevie Elam makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-39Amar Augillard makes layup (Esyah Pippa-White assists)
- 2nd Half56-39LJ Wells makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-39Tae Dozier makes layup (Ethan Elliott assists)
- 2nd Half58-40Aaron Franklin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-40Kael Robinson makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half61-42Josh Dixon makes layup
- 2nd Half63-42Donovan Rakotonanahary makes layup (Ethan Elliott assists)
- 2nd Half63-44Aaron Franklin makes driving layup
- 2nd Half65-44Donovan Rakotonanahary makes layup (Donovan Oday assists)
- 2nd Half65-46Josh Dixon makes driving layup
- 2nd Half65-48Aaron Franklin makes driving layup
- 2nd Half67-48Ethan Elliott makes layup
- 2nd Half70-48Kael Robinson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Dan Gherezgher assists)
- 2nd Half70-50Stevie Elam makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half70-51Stevie Elam makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half70-53Josh Dixon makes 18-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half72-53Tae Dozier makes driving layup
- 2nd Half72-55Josh Dixon makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half73-55Ryan Tolliver makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-55Ryan Tolliver makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-57Sekou Konneh makes layup (Aaron Franklin assists)
- 2nd Half77-57Donovan Oday makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ethan Elliott assists)
- 2nd Half77-58Aaron Franklin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-60Josh Dixon makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half80-60Kael Robinson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Tae Dozier assists)
- 2nd Half80-63Stevie Elam makes 28-foot three point jumper (Josh Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half81-63Donovan Oday makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half82-63Donovan Oday makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half82-65Stevie Elam makes driving layup
- 2nd Half85-65Kael Robinson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ethan Elliott assists)
- 2nd Half85-66Isaiah Dorceus makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-67Isaiah Dorceus makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Milwaukee Panthers, below favours Northern Kentucky Norse.
Venue
- UW-Milwaukee Panther ArenaMilwaukee, WI
- Attendance1747
- OfficialsKevin Brill, Mike Littlewood, Luke Schumer
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