Northern Kentucky’s early‑season momentum came to a halt on Tuesday night, as the Norse fell 125–63 to Saint Louis on the road. After opening the year 2–0, NKU has now dropped back‑to‑back games to sit at 2–2. The 125 points allowed mark the most given up by the program since 1973, when Kentucky Wesleyan scored 131, and the highest total surrendered in NKU’s Division I era since East Tennessee State put up 112 in 2016.
Saint Louis wasted no time asserting control. The Billikens opened the game on a 21–0 run, with Ishan Sharma scoring the first eight points. NKU missed its first 11 field‑goal attempts before B.J. Davis‑Ray finally put the Norse on the board with a layup at the 13:07 mark.
Northern Kentucky briefly trimmed the deficit to 25–14 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half, but Saint Louis responded with another surge and took a commanding 56–24 lead into halftime. The Billikens shot 54.3% from the field (19‑35) and 43.8% from three (7‑16) in the opening period. Sharma led the way with 16 first‑half points, while Trey Green added 10.
NKU struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting just 21.1% from the field (8‑38) and 14.3% from three (2‑14) in the first half.
The second half brought more of the same. After Noah Paggotto knocked down a pair of free throws early, Saint Louis continued to pile on. Amari McCottry scored the first nine points of the half for the Billikens, extending the lead to 65–30. Moments later, Quentin Jones, Green, and Cam Hutson each connected from deep to push the margin to 81–35 with 13:50 remaining.
NKU improved offensively in the second half, converting 16 of 35 attempts, but Saint Louis’ relentless pace proved overwhelming. The Billikens poured in 69 second‑half points to secure the dominant victory and improve to 3–0. Their 125 points were the third‑highest total in program history and the most ever scored against a Division I opponent.
Saint Louis finished the night shooting 59% from the field (44‑75), 56% from three (18‑32), and 83% at the line (19‑23), while dishing out 30 assists and committing just seven turnovers.
NKU shot 33% overall (24‑73), 21% from three (5‑24), and 59% at the line (10‑17), while turning the ball over 22 times.
Five Billikens scored in double figures. Green led all scorers with 22 points on a near‑perfect 7‑of‑8 shooting — all seven makes coming from beyond the arc. McCottry and Kellen Thames each added 18 points, combining to go 15‑of‑15 from the field. Sharma contributed 16 points, and Jones finished with 11 points and 10 assists.
Davis‑Ray led NKU with 13 points on 4‑of‑15 shooting, while Pagotto added 10 points and went 4‑of‑5 at the line.
The Norse look to bounce back as they welcome Central Michigan to Truist Arena for their first home game of the 2026–27 season this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST. The matchup will air on ESPN+ and can also be heard on Fox Sports 1360.
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