INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Horizon League men’s basketball championship on Sunday will feature a rubber match between two evenly matched foes, as the Northern Kentucky Norse and Green Bay Phoenix meet with an NCAA Tournament berth on the line.

The title game, set for March 8, 2026, at a neutral site in Indianapolis, pits teams with identical 18-13 overall records. They split two thrilling regular-season meetings, each winning on the other’s home floor. Green Bay edged Northern Kentucky 80-78 on Jan. 11, before the Phoenix survived an 87-84 overtime battle at Northern Kentucky on Feb. 4.

Both teams enter on winning notes. The Norse are coming off an 85-84 road victory at Oakland on Wednesday, powered by 19 points from guard Donovan Oday. The Phoenix secured their spot with a 64-56 home win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday, led by 19 points from Marcus Hall and 11 points and eight assists from Preston Ruedinger.

Oday, a dynamic scorer for Northern Kentucky, has averaged over 20 points per game in his last six contests, including a 26-point effort in a win at IU Indy. His ability to create offense will be central to the Norse attack.

For Green Bay, the engine is Ruedinger, a steady floor general who has tallied 39 assists over his last six games. His playmaking and control of the tempo were key in Green Bay’s dominant 85-63 win over Youngstown State last Saturday.

The matchup presents a compelling contrast. Northern Kentucky will rely on Oday’s scoring punch and momentum from a tight road win. Green Bay will counter with Ruedinger’s distribution and a defense that held its last two opponents under 65 points. With a league title and March Madness automatic bid at stake, the third chapter of this season’s series is poised for another dramatic finish.