After beginning the day stuck in an elevator, Northern Kentucky turned chaos into momentum, opening the 2026–27 season with an 84–76 win over UTEP in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The night belonged to freshman guard Willie Foster, who delivered a historic debut with 24 points and 10 rebounds, the most ever by a Norse player in their first Division I game.
NKU started strong, taking a 7–5 lead behind two free throws from Noah Pagotto and a three‑pointer from Foster with 17:45 left in the first half. The teams traded baskets throughout a tightly contested opening period, but the Norse maintained control for much of the half. Foster’s 13 first‑half points and Eric Acker’s 10 helped NKU take a 42–38 lead into the break.
The second half opened with more back‑and‑forth play before NKU created separation. Pagotto, Foster, and Acker repeatedly attacked the rim, drawing fouls and converting at the free‑throw line to push the lead to 59–49 with 12:56 remaining.
UTEP responded with a 7–0 run, sparked by a Donovan Criss three‑pointer, an Augusto Cassia layup, and two free throws from Leif Moeller, trimming the deficit to 59–56. NKU answered at the line once again, with Pagotto and Acker combining for four straight free throws to restore a 63–56 advantage.
The Norse endured another three‑minute scoring drought before Foster ended it with a layup to make it 67–62 with 5:44 left. UTEP stayed within striking distance until the final four minutes, when NKU delivered the decisive blow. Ryan Tolliver knocked down a three‑pointer, and Pagotto followed with a layup to extend the lead to 74–67 with 2:34 remaining. From there, NKU closed the game at the free‑throw line, with Acker, Pagotto, and Jokubauskas converting key attempts to secure the win — and the program’s first victory over a Mountain West opponent.
NKU’s efficiency at the line proved critical. The Norse went 30-of-33 (90.9%), their most makes in a game since hitting 34 against James Madison in November 2017. The 90.9% mark was their best free‑throw percentage since shooting 94.4% in a December 2025 matchup with Purdue Fort Wayne. NKU also shot 50% from the field (25-of-50).
UTEP went 27-70 from the field, 8-30 from 3-point range, and 14-24 from the free throw line.
Foster’s debut was one for the record books. His 24 points and 10 rebounds are both the highest totals by a Norse player in their first Division I game. He finished 7-of-13 from the field and 9-of-10 at the free‑throw line.
Pagotto added a dominant performance of his own, posting 19 points and 12 rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting and 9-of-11 from the line. His 12 rebounds are the most by any NKU player in their Division I debut.
Acker rounded out NKU’s trio of standouts with 16 points, 6-of-12 shooting, and five assists.
Northern Kentucky continues its South Dakota swing on Wednesday, traveling to Vermillion to face the South Dakota Coyotes at 8 p.m. EST. The game will stream on MidcoSportsPlus and air on Fox Sports 1360.
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