Norse Fall to Raiders in Thrilling Finish
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Truist Arena
Wright State Raiders 92, Northern Kentucky Norse 91, 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 Wright State Raiders vs Northern Kentucky Norse?
Wright State Raiders beat Northern Kentucky Norse 92-91 at Truist Arena on February 28, 2026.
Who was favored in Wright State Raiders vs Northern Kentucky Norse?
Northern Kentucky Norse were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -162 (about 62% implied). The underdog won.
In a nail-biting finish, the Wright State Raiders edged out the Northern Kentucky Norse with a final score of 92-91 at Truist Arena. This matchup was particularly compelling as it featured two teams with contrasting recent performances; the Raiders entered the game with a stronger overall record of 20-11 compared to the Norse's 18-13. The close scoreline reflects the intensity of the contest, which saw both teams trading leads throughout the game.
The Norse had a mixed record in their last ten games, finishing with a 4-6 mark and currently on a one-game winning streak. They averaged 77.2 points scored per game while allowing 78.1 points to their opponents. In their most recent outing, they secured a victory against Cleveland State with a score of 81-70. However, prior to that, they struggled against Youngstown State, losing 64-58. Their home record stands at 2-2 in the last ten games, while they have performed slightly better on the road with a 2-4 record.
Conversely, the Raiders have been in better form, boasting a 7-3 record in their last ten games and also on a one-game winning streak. They averaged 78.9 points scored and allowed 75.5 points during this stretch. Their latest victory came against Purdue Fort Wayne, where they won 74-70. The Raiders have shown resilience, especially in away games, with a 4-1 record compared to their home performance of 3-2.
Historically, the matchup has favored the Raiders, who now lead the head-to-head series 2-1 over the last two seasons. In their previous meeting on January 24, 2026, the Norse fell to the Raiders 80-88. The Raiders also won their earlier encounter in the 2025 season, but the Norse managed a victory in the second meeting of that season.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but both teams will have had to navigate the usual challenges of player fitness as the season progresses.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had the Norse favored by 3.5 points with a total set at 153.5. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, with the home moneyline at -162.0 and the away moneyline at 136.0. Such odds indicate that the Norse were expected to perform well at home, but the outcome suggests that the Raiders were underestimated.
Conditions at Truist Arena were conducive for a high-scoring game, and the action lived up to expectations. Fans witnessed a thrilling back-and-forth contest that culminated in a tense final few minutes. Key moments included several crucial free throws that ultimately decided the game, with Dominic Pangonis and Kellen Pickett making pivotal shots for the Raiders in the closing stages.
As the game drew to a close, Donovan Oday's driving layup tied the game at 90 before Michael Imariagbe's tip-in secured the win for the Raiders. The final moments showcased the importance of composure under pressure, as both teams fought for every point.
This matchup was not only significant for the standings but also highlighted the competitive spirit of both teams as they head into the final stretch of the season. The Norse will look to regroup and build on their recent performances, while the Raiders will aim to continue their momentum as they prepare for upcoming challenges.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NKU -3.5 | 153.5 o -112 / u -108 | Wright State Raiders +136 · Northern Kentucky Norse -162 |
Leaders
- PointsDonovan Oday21Northern Kentucky Norse
- AssistsDan Gherezgher3Northern Kentucky Norse
- ReboundsLJ Wells5Northern Kentucky Norse
- PointsKellen Pickett19Wright State Raiders
- AssistsTJ Burch5Wright State Raiders
- ReboundsMichael Imariagbe16Wright State Raiders
Recent form
Northern Kentucky Norse
Last 10: 4-6Streak W177.2 scored · 78.1 allowed per game2-2 at home
- W81-70at Cleveland State VikingsFeb 26
- 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
Wright State Raiders
Last 10: 7-3Streak W178.9 scored · 75.5 allowed per game4-1 away
- W74-70at Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsFeb 26
- L68-81vs Robert Morris ColonialsFeb 22
- W85-73vs IU Indianapolis JaguarsFeb 20
- W102-90at Cleveland State VikingsFeb 15
- L74-77vs Detroit Mercy TitansFeb 13
- W73-68vs Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsFeb 8
- L66-72at Robert Morris ColonialsFeb 5
- W83-75at Green Bay PhoenixFeb 1
- W76-69at Milwaukee PanthersJan 31
- W88-80vs Northern Kentucky NorseJan 24
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 | Wright State Raiders | Northern Kentucky Norse |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 35-63 | 33-62 |
| Field goal % | 56 | 53 |
| Three-pointers | 9-18 | 9-25 |
| Three-point % | 50 | 36 |
| Free throws | 13-20 | 16-20 |
| Free throw % | 65 | 80 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 18 |
| Assists | 15 | 14 |
| Steals | 8 | 8 |
| Blocks | 0 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 17 |
| Points in the paint | 52 | 48 |
| Fouls | 19 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 20 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 11 | 87 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half49-64Dominic Pangonis makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half51-64TJ Burch makes layup
- 2nd Half51-66LJ Wells makes layup
- 2nd Half54-66TJ Burch makes 25-foot three point jumper (Michael Imariagbe assists)
- 2nd Half56-66Kellen Pickett makes layup
- 2nd Half58-66Kellen Pickett makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half58-69Dan Gherezgher makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kael Robinson assists)
- 2nd Half60-69Kellen Pickett makes 4-foot dunk (Michael Imariagbe assists)
- 2nd Half60-71Dan Gherezgher makes 14-foot step back jumpshot (Kael Robinson assists)
- 2nd Half61-71Michael Imariagbe makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-73Donovan Rakotonanahary makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half63-73Michael Imariagbe makes layup
- 2nd Half63-75Tae Dozier makes layup
- 2nd Half63-76Tae Dozier makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half66-76Michael Cooper makes 23-foot three point jumper (TJ Burch assists)
- 2nd Half66-78Donovan Rakotonanahary makes layup (Dan Gherezgher assists)
- 2nd Half66-80Dan Gherezgher makes driving layup
- 2nd Half67-80Andrea Holden makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-80TJ Burch makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-80Andrea Holden makes 2-foot dunk (TJ Burch assists)
- 2nd Half71-82Kael Robinson makes layup
- 2nd Half71-83Kael Robinson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-84Kael Robinson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-84TJ Burch makes layup
- 2nd Half75-84Kellen Pickett makes layup (TJ Burch assists)
- 2nd Half77-84Michael Cooper makes driving layup
- 2nd Half78-84Michael Cooper makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half80-84Michael Imariagbe makes layup
- 2nd Half80-86Donovan Oday makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half83-86Kellen Pickett makes 24-foot three point jumper (Michael Cooper assists)
- 2nd Half83-88Kael Robinson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half85-88Michael Imariagbe makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half86-88Dominic Pangonis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-88Dominic Pangonis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half88-88Kellen Pickett makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half89-88Kellen Pickett makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half90-88Michael Imariagbe makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half90-90Donovan Oday makes driving layup
- 2nd Half90-91Donovan Oday makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half92-91Michael Imariagbe makes 0-foot tip in layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Northern Kentucky Norse, below favours Wright State Raiders.
Venue
- Truist ArenaHighland Heights, KY
- Attendance3604
- OfficialsSteve Honacki, Lars Murray
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- 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