IU Indianapolis is set to face off against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Thursday evening following a narrow 92-88 defeat to the Milwaukee Panthers, where Maguire Mitchell delivered a standout performance with 23 points. The matchup, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST in Indianapolis, marks the first conference meeting between the two teams this season.
The Jaguars, now 7-19 overall and holding a 3-12 record within the Horizon League, have performed moderately well at home, securing five wins out of eleven games played at their court. In contrast, they hold a 5-8 record against teams with winning records. On the other hand, Northern Kentucky, currently 15-11 and 7-8 in the conference, stands fourth in the Horizon League. The Norse are known for their teamwork, averaging 15.3 assists per game, with Ethan Elliott highlighting this strength by averaging 4.3 assists per outing.
When it comes to shooting performance, the Jaguars boast a field goal percentage of 45.7%, slightly edging out the 45.5% that Northern Kentucky allows opponents. Northern Kentucky, however, is proficient beyond the arc, averaging 9.3 made three-pointers per game, which is notably higher than IU Indianapolis’s allowance of 8.3.
Key players to watch include Finley Woodward for the Jaguars, who averages 8.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, along with Kyler D’Augustino, who has been particularly effective recently with an average of 17.7 points while shooting at an impressive 51.1% over the last ten games. For Northern Kentucky, Dan Gherezgher Jr. contributes significantly with an average of 16 points and 2.8 made three-pointers per game, while Donovan Oday has also been impactful, averaging 22.7 points with an efficient shooting percentage of 50.0% during the past ten games.
The last ten games have seen the Jaguars average 79.9 points with notable contributions in rebounds and assists, though their opponents have typically outscored them, averaging 83.4 points. Meanwhile, the Norse have also shown offensive prowess, scoring 81.5 points per game during the same stretch.
As both teams prepare for this exciting matchup, fans are hoping for a thrilling contest that could see IU Indianapolis leverage their home advantage against a competitive Northern Kentucky side.