- Matchup: Northern Kentucky Norse vs Youngstown State Penguins
- Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
- Venue: Beeghly Center, Youngstown, OH
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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On Sunday, the Youngstown State Penguins (14-14) will face off against the Northern Kentucky Norse (17-11) at Beeghly Center.
In their latest contest, the Northern Kentucky Norse triumphed over IPFW with a commanding score of 87-71. The Norse exhibited an impressive 51.6% shooting accuracy (32 of 62) and successfully converted 10 of their 29 attempts from beyond the arc. From the free-throw line, they secured 13 out of 19 shots, translating to a 68.4% success rate. On the boards, Northern Kentucky claimed 36 rebounds, including 10 offensive. The team also recorded 18 assists, forced 13 turnovers from their opponents, and made 8 steals. Defensively, the Norse allowed IPFW to shoot 41.5% (22 of 53). IPFW, on the other hand, managed 12 assists and 4 steals while compiling 25 rebounds (5 offensive, 20 defensive), but did not register any blocks. The team was effective from the free-throw line, hitting 77.3% by converting 17 of 22 attempts and making 10 of 27 three-point attempts. The Norse committed 18 fouls, compared to 20 from IPFW.
LJ Wells stood out in this game, posting 29 points on 10 of 16 shooting. He contributed 4 rebounds in his 35 minutes of play, showcasing a 62.5% shooting percentage and dishing out 5 assists.
The Northern Kentucky Norse enter this contest boasting a record of 17-11 this season. They average 12.0 turnovers and commit 18.2 fouls per game. The team averages 35.1 rebounds and has amassed 436 assists this season, placing them 58th in Division 1 for assist distribution. Northern Kentucky hits 33.7% of their three-pointers (261 of 774) and 71.6% from the free-throw line. They score an average of 83.1 points per game, ranking 44th nationally, while shooting 47.0% from the field.
Defensively, the Norse force an average of 14.3 turnovers per game while committing 18.8 personal fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 35.6% from three-point range and rank 251st nationally in points per game allowed (76.6). Their opponents maintain a field goal percentage of 45.5% (755 of 1,661) and Northern Kentucky concedes an average of 34.9 rebounds per game. The Norse rank 278th in college basketball for assists allowed, giving up 390 this season.
In their previous matchup, the Youngstown State Penguins achieved a victory with a score of 106-82 against Cleveland State. In terms of rebounding, they allowed Cleveland State 21 total rebounds (6 offensive). The Penguins shot 34.0% from three-point territory (16 of 47) and converted 8 of 11 free-throw attempts (72.7%). Defensively, they permitted Cleveland State to make 29 of their 65 field goals, representing a shooting percentage of 44.6%. The Penguins, themselves, concluded the game shooting an impressive 63.5%, making 33 of 52 attempts. From three-point land, they achieved 63.6% by connecting on 14 of 22 attempts and successfully converted 76.5% of their free throws (26 of 34). Cleveland State committed 26 fouls, granting the Penguins numerous opportunities at the charity stripe. Youngstown State recorded 10 turnovers while tallying 5 steals in the game. They amassed 29 defensive rebounds and 7 offensive boards, totaling 36 rebounds for the matchup.
Cris Carroll was pivotal for the Penguins, scoring 26 points on 8 of 13 shooting (61.5%) and adding 6 rebounds and 6 assists over 30 minutes on the court.
The Youngstown State Penguins stand at 14-14 this season. Offensively, they are shooting 47.2% from the field, ranking 66th in the nation. Thus far, Youngstown State has accumulated 2,250 points for an average of 80.4 points per game, coupled with an average of 35.1 rebounds per game. They generate 15.0 assists per game (ranked 118th nationally) while averaging 12.9 turnovers. The Penguins also commit 17.6 fouls per game and have an impressive free-throw success rate of 74.5%.
The defense for Youngstown State concedes 34.6% from beyond the arc (186 of 538) and allows opponents to shoot 74.5% from the free-throw line. They yield 12.1 assists and 32.4 rebounds per game, ranking 82nd and 62nd, respectively, in college basketball. Their defensive rating stands at 161st in points per game allowed, averaging 73.2. Additionally, they force 12.6 turnovers per game and have allowed opponents to achieve a shooting percentage of 44.9% (ranked 236th in college basketball).
Who will prevail in tonight’s NCAA clash against the spread?
Prediction: Go with Northern Kentucky
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