Preview: Northern Kentucky Faces Wright State in Horizon League Showdown

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — A pivotal Horizon League men’s basketball matchup awaits Monday at Fairgrounds Coliseum as the Wright State Raiders host the Northern Kentucky Norse, with recent history suggesting another tight contest between the rivals.

The game, set for March 9, 2026, features two of the conference’s top teams. Wright State (21-11) enters with a slight edge in record over Northern Kentucky (19-13), but the teams split their regular-season series, each winning on the other’s home floor. The most recent meeting was a classic, with Wright State escaping Highland Heights, Kentucky, with a 92-91 victory on Feb. 28.

Northern Kentucky arrives riding momentum from a 96-76 road win at Green Bay on Sunday. Guard LJ Wells led the way with 26 points and four assists, continuing a stellar late-season surge. Over his last eight games, Wells is averaging over 20 points per contest, including a 29-point outing against Purdue Fort Wayne and a 24-point performance at Cleveland State. His backcourt play will be critical for the Norse.

Wright State counters with its own offensive catalyst in guard Kellen Pickett. He scored 19 points in the Feb. 28 win at Northern Kentucky and is coming off an efficient 18-point effort in a 90-61 rout of Cleveland State on March 4. Pickett’s versatility as a scorer and defender makes him a central figure for the Raiders’ attack.

Both teams have shown offensive firepower but have endured defensive lapses. The Norse have scored 81 points or more in five of their last seven games, while the Raiders have topped 90 points three times in the same span. Their two head-to-head games this season averaged 177.5 total points.

The neutral-site setting in Indianapolis adds a tournament-like atmosphere to this conference clash. With a recent history of nail-biters, Monday’s game promises to be a high-stakes, high-scoring affair that could hinge on the backcourt duel between Wells and Pickett. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.