NKY

UTEP

Willie Foster leads Northern Kentucky past UTEP 84-76 in opener

AP
Nov 02, 2026

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Willie Foster had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Noah Pagotto added 19 points and 12 boards, and Northern Kentucky Norse defeat UTEP 84-76 on Monday in a season opener for both teams.

Eric Acker shot 6 for 12 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 16 points for the Norse.

Youssouf Traore led the way for the Miners with 18 points and seven rebounds. Donovan Criss added 13 points for UTEP. Cam McDaniels finished with 11 points.

Northern Kentucky took the lead for good with 1:02 to go in the first half. The score was 42-38 at halftime, with Foster racking up 13 points. Northern Kentucky outscored UTEP in the second half by four points, with Pagotto scoring a team-high 11.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

1st Half
NKY
Norse
42
UTEP
Miners
38

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Norse gains possession)
19:35	+2	Eric Acker makes two point layup (BJ Davis-Ray assists)	2-0
19:12	+3	Augusto Cassiá makes three point jump shot (Leif Moeller assists)	2-3
18:51		Cam McDaniels shooting foul (Noah Pagotto draws the foul)
18:51	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 1 of 2	3-3
18:51	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 2 of 2	4-3
18:29		Youssouf Traore misses two point layup
18:27		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
18:16		BJ Davis-Ray turnover (lost ball) (Augusto Cassiá steals)
18:01	+2	Youssouf Traore makes two point layup (Augusto Cassiá assists)	4-5
17:44	+3	Willie Foster makes three point jump shot (Noah Pagotto assists)	7-5
17:28		Leif Moeller turnover (bad pass) (Willie Foster steals)
17:20	+2	Willie Foster makes two point dunk	9-5
16:58		Leif Moeller misses two point jump shot
16:56		Augusto Cassiá offensive rebound
16:52		Reese Miller misses three point jump shot
16:50		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
16:45		Willie Foster misses three point jump shot
16:43		Cam McDaniels defensive rebound
16:37		Cam McDaniels misses three point jump shot
16:35		Willie Foster defensive rebound
16:29		Willie Foster turnover (lost ball) (Cam McDaniels steals)
16:18		BJ Davis-Ray shooting foul (Reid Cason draws the foul)
16:18		Reid Cason misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:18		Reid Cason misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:18		BJ Davis-Ray defensive rebound
16:05		BJ Davis-Ray turnover (lost ball)
15:51		Reid Cason misses two point layup
15:49		Isaiah Ward offensive rebound
15:44		Isaiah Ward misses two point tip layup
15:42		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
15:38		Eric Acker turnover (double dribble)
15:38		TV timeout
15:20		Donovan Rakotonanahary personal foul (Reid Cason draws the foul)
15:14	+2	Reid Cason makes two point layup (Cam McDaniels assists)	9-7
15:02		Reid Cason shooting foul (Willie Foster draws the foul)
15:02	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 1 of 2	10-7
15:02	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 2 of 2	11-7
14:35		Reese Miller misses three point jump shot
14:33		Norse defensive rebound
14:11	+2	Willie Foster makes two point driving layup	13-7
13:49	+2	Youssouf Traore makes two point layup (Augusto Cassiá assists)	13-9
13:31		BJ Davis-Ray misses three point jump shot
13:29		Jace Whiting defensive rebound
13:19		Eric Acker shooting foul (Reese Miller draws the foul)
13:19	+1	Reese Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 2	13-10
13:19	+1	Reese Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-11
13:05	+2	Eric Acker makes two point layup	15-11
12:53		Gabrielius Jokubauskas personal foul
12:42		Jace Whiting misses three point jump shot
12:40		Will Shortt defensive rebound
12:28		BJ Davis-Ray misses two point layup
12:26		BJ Davis-Ray offensive rebound
12:22	+2	BJ Davis-Ray makes two point tip layup	17-11
12:14	+3	Jace Whiting makes three point jump shot (Donovan Criss assists)	17-14
12:13		Eric Acker turnover
11:49	+2	Augusto Cassiá makes two point layup	17-16
11:34		Gabrielius Jokubauskas misses three point jump shot
11:32		Reid Cason defensive rebound
11:22		Cam McDaniels misses two point fadeaway jump shot
11:20		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
11:14		Jace Whiting shooting foul (Willie Foster draws the foul)
11:14		TV timeout
11:14	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-16
11:14	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-16
10:59		Reid Cason misses two point layup
10:50		Reid Cason misses two point layup
10:48		Willie Foster defensive rebound
10:42		Willie Foster misses three point jump shot
10:40		Cam McDaniels defensive rebound
10:30		Cam McDaniels misses three point jump shot
10:28		Willie Foster defensive rebound
10:15	+2	Noah Pagotto makes two point jump shot	21-16
10:01		Jace Whiting misses three point jump shot
9:59		Reid Cason offensive rebound
9:53	+2	Reid Cason makes two point layup	21-18
9:34	+2	Eric Acker makes two point pullup jump shot	23-18
9:17	+3	Jace Whiting makes three point jump shot (Cam McDaniels assists)	23-21
8:44	+2	Noah Pagotto makes two point layup (Juanma Ruiz assists)	25-21
8:22		Reid Cason misses two point layup
8:20		Juanma Ruiz defensive rebound
8:03		Gabrielius Jokubauskas misses three point jump shot
8:01		Jace Whiting defensive rebound
7:54	+3	Cam McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Jace Whiting assists)	25-24
7:34		Gabrielius Jokubauskas misses three point jump shot
7:32		Noah Pagotto offensive rebound
7:31		Reid Cason personal foul
7:31		TV timeout
7:26		Will Shortt turnover (out of bounds)
7:05	+2	Youssouf Traore makes two point layup (Leif Moeller assists)	25-26
6:53	+2	Willie Foster makes two point floating jump shot	27-26
6:42	+3	Cam McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Augusto Cassiá assists)	27-29
6:19		Eric Acker misses two point jump shot
6:17		Norse offensive rebound
6:09	+3	BJ Davis-Ray makes three point jump shot (Eric Acker assists)	30-29
6:09		Cam McDaniels personal foul
6:02		Eric Acker misses three point jump shot
6:00		Leif Moeller defensive rebound
5:45	+2	Reese Miller makes two point cutting layup (Augusto Cassiá assists)	30-31
5:34		Augusto Cassiá personal foul (Will Shortt draws the foul)
5:28		BJ Davis-Ray turnover (lost ball) (Augusto Cassiá steals)
5:14	+2	Youssouf Traore makes two point layup (Augusto Cassiá assists)	30-33
5:14		Norse 30 second timeout
5:00	+2	Eric Acker makes two point floating jump shot	32-33
4:41		Augusto Cassiá turnover (bad pass) (Gabrielius Jokubauskas steals)
4:31		BJ Davis-Ray misses three point jump shot
4:29		Leif Moeller defensive rebound
4:20		Noah Pagotto personal foul
4:08		Augusto Cassiá turnover (bad pass)
4:04		Eric Acker misses three point jump shot
4:02		Miners defensive rebound
3:49		Reese Miller misses three point jump shot
3:47		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
3:36		Eric Acker turnover (bad pass) (Youssouf Traore steals)
3:26	+2	Leif Moeller makes two point jump shot	32-35
2:59	+2	Noah Pagotto makes two point layup (Donovan Rakotonanahary assists)	34-35
2:44		Leif Moeller misses two point jump shot
2:42		Isaiah Ward offensive rebound
2:39		Jace Whiting misses three point jump shot
2:37		Miners offensive rebound
2:37		Donovan Rakotonanahary personal foul
2:37		TV timeout
2:30		Cam McDaniels misses two point jump shot
2:28		Reid Cason offensive rebound
2:27		Reid Cason offensive foul
2:27		Reid Cason turnover (offensive foul)
1:59		Gabrielius Jokubauskas misses two point layup
1:57		Norse turnover (shot clock violation)
1:40		Cam McDaniels misses two point layup
1:38		Gabrielius Jokubauskas defensive rebound
1:24	+2	BJ Davis-Ray makes two point jump shot	36-35
1:02	+2	Donovan Criss makes two point layup	36-37
1:02		BJ Davis-Ray shooting foul (Donovan Criss draws the foul)
1:02		Donovan Criss misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:02		Isaiah Ward personal foul
1:02	+1	Will Shortt makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-37
1:02	+1	Will Shortt makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-37
0:59		Donovan Rakotonanahary personal foul (Donovan Criss draws the foul)
0:59		Donovan Criss misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:59		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
0:42		Augusto Cassiá personal foul (Will Shortt draws the foul)
0:42	+1	Will Shortt makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-37
0:42	+1	Will Shortt makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-37
0:26		BJ Davis-Ray personal foul (Donovan Criss draws the foul)
0:26	+1	Donovan Criss makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-38
0:26		Donovan Criss misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:26		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
0:01	+2	Eric Acker makes two point jump shot	42-38
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
NKY
Norse
42
UTEP
Miners
38

Time		Play	Score
19:44		Noah Pagotto misses two point layup
19:42		Cam McDaniels defensive rebound
19:25	+2	Youssouf Traore makes two point dunk (Leif Moeller assists)	42-40
19:25		Will Shortt shooting foul (Youssouf Traore draws the foul)
19:25	+1	Youssouf Traore makes regular free throw 1 of 1	42-41
19:00		Cam McDaniels shooting foul (Noah Pagotto draws the foul)
19:00	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 1 of 2	43-41
19:00	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-41
18:36		Youssouf Traore misses two point layup
18:34		Willie Foster defensive rebound
18:31	+2	Willie Foster makes two point layup	46-41
18:15		Cam McDaniels misses three point jump shot
18:13		Willie Foster defensive rebound
17:52		BJ Davis-Ray misses three point jump shot
17:50		Youssouf Traore defensive rebound
17:24	+2	Augusto Cassiá makes two point layup	46-43
17:24		Will Shortt shooting foul (Augusto Cassiá draws the foul)
17:24		Augusto Cassiá misses regular free throw 1 of 1
17:24		Norse defensive rebound
17:09		Eric Acker turnover (lost ball) (Leif Moeller steals)
17:06	+2	Leif Moeller makes two point layup	46-45
16:39	+2	Will Shortt makes two point dunk (Eric Acker assists)	48-45
16:28		Will Shortt personal foul
16:22		Cam McDaniels misses two point layup
16:20		Youssouf Traore offensive rebound
16:20		Willie Foster personal foul
16:12		Cam McDaniels misses three point jump shot
16:10		Youssouf Traore offensive rebound
16:10		Gabrielius Jokubauskas personal foul
16:07		Augusto Cassiá misses two point jump shot
16:05		Youssouf Traore personal foul
15:48	+3	Gabrielius Jokubauskas makes three point jump shot (Eric Acker assists)	51-45
15:27	+2	Cam McDaniels makes two point jump shot	51-47
15:00		Willie Foster misses three point jump shot
14:58		Donovan Rakotonanahary offensive rebound
14:52	+2	Eric Acker makes two point dunk	53-47
14:44		Leif Moeller misses three point jump shot
14:42		Noah Pagotto personal foul
14:42		TV timeout
14:42	+1	Augusto Cassiá makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-48
14:42		Augusto Cassiá misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:42		Willie Foster defensive rebound
14:32		Leif Moeller shooting foul (Willie Foster draws the foul)
14:32	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-48
14:32	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-48
14:20		Cam McDaniels turnover
14:07		Reid Cason shooting foul
14:00		Gabrielius Jokubauskas misses three point jump shot
13:58		Leif Moeller defensive rebound
13:42		Willie Foster blocks Jace Whiting's two point layup
13:40		Willie Foster defensive rebound
13:35	+2	Willie Foster makes two point jump shot	57-48
13:22		Augusto Cassiá misses three point jump shot
13:20		Leif Moeller offensive rebound
13:16		Gabrielius Jokubauskas shooting foul (Donovan Criss draws the foul)
13:16	+1	Donovan Criss makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-49
13:16		Donovan Criss misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:16		Willie Foster defensive rebound
12:57		Isaiah Ward shooting foul (BJ Davis-Ray draws the foul)
12:57	+1	BJ Davis-Ray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-49
12:57	+1	BJ Davis-Ray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-49
12:40		Leif Moeller misses two point jump shot
12:38		Isaiah Ward offensive rebound
12:33	+3	Donovan Criss makes three point jump shot (Jace Whiting assists)	59-52
12:23		Jace Whiting shooting foul
12:16		Donovan Criss blocks Willie Foster's two point jump shot
12:14		Augusto Cassiá defensive rebound
12:10		Isaiah Ward turnover (out of bounds)
11:59		Eric Acker turnover
11:59		TV timeout
11:41		Isaiah Ward misses two point layup
11:39		Will Shortt defensive rebound
11:33		Donovan Rakotonanahary offensive foul (Jace Whiting draws the foul)
11:33		Donovan Rakotonanahary turnover (offensive foul)
11:16		Leif Moeller misses two point jump shot
11:14		Will Shortt defensive rebound
11:04		BJ Davis-Ray misses three point jump shot
11:02		Isaiah Ward defensive rebound
10:56		Leif Moeller misses three point jump shot
10:54		Augusto Cassiá offensive rebound
10:39	+2	Augusto Cassiá makes two point layup	59-54
10:34		Norse 30 second timeout
10:34		TV timeout
10:17		Eric Acker turnover (lost ball) (Jace Whiting steals)
10:09		Eric Acker personal foul (Leif Moeller draws the foul)
10:09	+1	Leif Moeller makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-55
10:09	+1	Leif Moeller makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-56
9:44		Cam McDaniels personal foul (Noah Pagotto draws the foul)
9:44	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-56
9:44	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-56
9:26		Reese Miller misses three point jump shot
9:24		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
9:18		Jace Whiting shooting foul (Eric Acker draws the foul)
9:18	+1	Eric Acker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-56
9:18	+1	Eric Acker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-56
8:58	+3	Donovan Criss makes three point jump shot (Leif Moeller assists)	63-59
8:44		Willie Foster misses three point jump shot
8:42		Ryan Tolliver offensive rebound
8:38		Ryan Tolliver misses two point layup
8:36		Noah Pagotto offensive rebound
8:27	+2	Noah Pagotto makes two point tip layup	65-59
8:15		Jace Whiting misses three point jump shot
8:13		Youssouf Traore offensive rebound
8:06		Leif Moeller misses two point jump shot
8:04		Noah Pagotto personal foul (Youssouf Traore draws the foul)
8:04	+1	Youssouf Traore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-60
8:04		Youssouf Traore misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:04		Ryan Tolliver defensive rebound
7:47		Willie Foster misses two point jump shot
7:45		Jace Whiting defensive rebound
7:32		Cam McDaniels misses three point jump shot
7:30		Gabrielius Jokubauskas defensive rebound
7:23		Donovan Criss personal foul (Noah Pagotto draws the foul)
7:23		TV timeout
7:23		Noah Pagotto misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:23		Jace Whiting defensive rebound
7:08	+2	Youssouf Traore makes two point dunk (Reese Miller assists)	65-62
6:40		Eric Acker misses three point jump shot
6:38		Augusto Cassiá defensive rebound
6:24		Reese Miller turnover (lost ball) (Ryan Tolliver steals)
6:04		Will Shortt turnover (bad pass)
5:55		Will Shortt blocks Jace Whiting's three point jump shot
5:53		Willie Foster defensive rebound
5:44	+2	Willie Foster makes two point driving layup	67-62
5:27		Cam McDaniels misses two point layup
5:25		Ryan Tolliver defensive rebound
5:16		Gabrielius Jokubauskas misses three point jump shot
5:14		Miners defensive rebound
5:04		Willie Foster shooting foul (Youssouf Traore draws the foul)
5:04	+1	Youssouf Traore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-63
5:04	+1	Youssouf Traore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-64
4:53		Augusto Cassiá shooting foul (Willie Foster draws the foul)
4:53	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-64
4:53	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-64
4:38		Augusto Cassiá misses three point jump shot
4:36		Youssouf Traore offensive rebound
4:23		Youssouf Traore misses two point layup
4:21		Ryan Tolliver defensive rebound
4:14		Eric Acker misses three point jump shot
4:12		Youssouf Traore defensive rebound
3:53	+2	Donovan Criss makes two point layup	69-66
3:34	+3	Ryan Tolliver makes three point jump shot (Willie Foster assists)	72-66
3:13		TV timeout
3:01		Augusto Cassiá misses three point jump shot
2:59		Willie Foster defensive rebound
2:36	+2	Noah Pagotto makes two point floating jump shot (Eric Acker assists)	74-66
2:18		Noah Pagotto personal foul (Jace Whiting draws the foul)
2:18	+1	Jace Whiting makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-67
2:18	+1	Jace Whiting makes regular free throw 2 of 2	74-68
1:52		Eric Acker misses two point layup
1:50		Noah Pagotto offensive rebound
1:50		Augusto Cassiá personal foul (Noah Pagotto draws the foul)
1:50		Noah Pagotto misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:50	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 2 of 2	75-68
1:42		Jace Whiting misses three point jump shot
1:40		Jace Whiting offensive rebound
1:30		Leif Moeller misses three point jump shot
1:28		Noah Pagotto defensive rebound
1:28		Augusto Cassiá personal foul (Noah Pagotto draws the foul)
1:28	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 1 of 2	76-68
1:28	+1	Noah Pagotto makes regular free throw 2 of 2	77-68
1:20		Cam McDaniels misses three point jump shot
1:18		Eric Acker defensive rebound
0:56	+2	Ryan Tolliver makes two point alley-oop dunk (Eric Acker assists)	79-68
0:45	+3	Cam McDaniels makes three point jump shot	79-71
0:45		Miners 30 second timeout
0:41		Donovan Criss personal foul (Eric Acker draws the foul)
0:41	+1	Eric Acker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-71
0:41	+1	Eric Acker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	81-71
0:31	+2	Youssouf Traore makes two point driving layup (Leif Moeller assists)	81-73
0:31		Miners 30 second timeout
0:30		Jace Whiting personal foul (Willie Foster draws the foul)
0:30	+1	Willie Foster makes regular free throw 1 of 2	82-73
0:30		Willie Foster misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:30		Youssouf Traore defensive rebound
0:20	+2	Leif Moeller makes two point layup	82-75
0:17		Leif Moeller personal foul (Gabrielius Jokubauskas draws the foul)
0:17	+1	Gabrielius Jokubauskas makes regular free throw 1 of 2	83-75
0:17	+1	Gabrielius Jokubauskas makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-75
0:16		Ryan Tolliver personal foul (Donovan Criss draws the foul)
0:16		Donovan Criss misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:16	+1	Donovan Criss makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-76
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Donovan Criss makes regular free throw 2 of 2