Northern Kentucky vs Detroit Mercy Picks and Prediction – 1/31/2025

Northern Kentucky enters this matchup at 9-12 overall and 4-6 in conference play. The Norse are on a five-game losing streak, most recently falling 79-59 to Milwaukee. Offensively, Northern Kentucky is averaging 68.9 points per game while shooting 42.3% from the field. Trey Robinson leads the team with 15.5 points per game while shooting 49.4% from the floor. Robinson is also the leading rebounder at 6.0 boards per contest. Sam Vinson runs the offense with 4.2 assists per game while also contributing 1.9 steals. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

Defensively, Northern Kentucky has struggled, allowing 70.8 points per game. Opponents have been able to take advantage of the Norse’s defensive lapses, as they have lost five straight by an average of 13.2 points. Despite forcing 8.1 steals per game, the Norse have allowed too many second-chance opportunities due to a rebounding disadvantage, pulling down just 34.5 per contest. Keeyan Itejere leads the team in blocks at 1.7 per game, but the overall interior defense has been a weak point. 

Detroit Mercy comes into this matchup at 6-16 overall and 2-9 in conference play. The Titans have dropped six straight games, most recently losing 67-50 to Wright State. Offensively, Detroit Mercy is posting 66.0 points per game while shooting just 40.1% from the field. Orlando Lovejoy leads the team with 15.7 points per game, shooting 44.5% from the field and 83.3% from the free throw line. Lovejoy also leads the team in rebounds (4.8), assists (3.8), and steals (1.8), making him the engine of the Titans' offense. However, with only 10.5 assists per game as a team, ball movement has been a concern.

Defensively, Detroit Mercy has struggled even more, allowing 74.8 points per game. The Titans have been poor on the boards, getting outrebounded regularly despite grabbing 38.1 per contest. The interior defense has been a major issue, with only 2.2 blocks per game, led by Ryan Kalambay at 0.6 per game.

Northern Kentucky may be on a rough streak, but Detroit Mercy has been even worse defensively, allowing nearly 75 points per game. The Norse have a slight offensive edge, with Robinson leading the charge. Detroit Mercy’s offensive inconsistency and lack of rim protection should allow Northern Kentucky to control the pace and pull out a win. Final Score Prediction: Northern Kentucky wins and covers 77-65.