DEKALB, Ill. -- Freshman Levi Bradley recorded his first career double-double with a career-high 19 points and a career-best 11 rebounds as the Northern Illinois Huskies closed non-conference play with a 91-48 victory over Judson on Saturday afternoon at the NIU Convocation Center.
Junior Aaric Armstead and freshman Laytwan Porter each added 12 points, while sophomore Marin Maric scored in double figures for the ninth consecutive contest with 11 points.
NIU improved to 11-2 on the season after . . .
Junior Aaric Armstead and freshman Laytwan Porter each added 12 points, while sophomore Marin Maric scored in double figures for the ninth consecutive contest with 11 points.
NIU improved to 11-2 on the season after . . .
. . . shooting 49.3 percent (35-of-71) from the field and 81.8 percent (18-of-22) from the free-throw line, while holding Judson to just 23.5 percent (16-of-68) shooting in the contest.
The Huskies scored 59 points in the paint and turned 23 Judson turnovers into 28 points; the NIU bench contributed 50 points in the victory.
“We did what we were supposed to do,” said NIU head coach Mark Montgomery. “We came out and defended. We shared the ball and scored in the paint. I know that our non-conference schedule has gotten us ready for conference play.
“Levi Bradley had his first career double-double. I thought he came out aggressive, he rebounded the ball well. He has a knack around the basket and he can stretch out to a long-two (point shot) or three. He has been practicing better, everything with him is about confidence and strength. The stronger he gets, and the more confident he gets, his minutes will continue to go up. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, you have to put the ball in the basket and get rebounds, and he did that.”
NIU led by one three minutes into the contest before a 12-3 burst helped push the lead to 10 with 12:27 to play in the half. Maric opened the run with a basket, Armstead added a pair and senior Travon Baker knocked down a triple as the Huskies took a 15-7 lead. After a triple by Justin Allen for the Eagles, Bradley added a basket and an old-fashioned three-point play to give NIU a 20-10 lead.
Leading 24-15, NIU scored the next 10 to take a 19-point advantage. Junior Michael Orris opened the run with a layup and Porter added a pair of free throws. Maric connected on a trifecta, freshman Jaylen Key split a pair at the line and Armstead closed the spurt with a pair of free throw as the Huskies took a 34-15 lead with just over eight minutes to play before the intermission.
Key finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
The Huskie lead would grow to as much as 24 in the half before NIU took a 23-point lead, 53-30, into the locker room.
After the break, Northern Illinois clamped down even more, holding Judson to just 15.9 percent shooting (6-of-38) in the second half as the Huskies won their ninth consecutive home game to start the season, and their 11th-straight home game overall, tying a school-record.
Drew Makiewicz scored 15 points to lead Judson; Andrew Eck added eight points and a team-high five rebounds for the Eagles.
NIU will begin Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday night, Jan. 6, as the Huskies host Ohio University. Game time against the Bobcats is slated for 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of NIU Athletics)
The Huskies scored 59 points in the paint and turned 23 Judson turnovers into 28 points; the NIU bench contributed 50 points in the victory.
“We did what we were supposed to do,” said NIU head coach Mark Montgomery. “We came out and defended. We shared the ball and scored in the paint. I know that our non-conference schedule has gotten us ready for conference play.
“Levi Bradley had his first career double-double. I thought he came out aggressive, he rebounded the ball well. He has a knack around the basket and he can stretch out to a long-two (point shot) or three. He has been practicing better, everything with him is about confidence and strength. The stronger he gets, and the more confident he gets, his minutes will continue to go up. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, you have to put the ball in the basket and get rebounds, and he did that.”
NIU led by one three minutes into the contest before a 12-3 burst helped push the lead to 10 with 12:27 to play in the half. Maric opened the run with a basket, Armstead added a pair and senior Travon Baker knocked down a triple as the Huskies took a 15-7 lead. After a triple by Justin Allen for the Eagles, Bradley added a basket and an old-fashioned three-point play to give NIU a 20-10 lead.
Leading 24-15, NIU scored the next 10 to take a 19-point advantage. Junior Michael Orris opened the run with a layup and Porter added a pair of free throws. Maric connected on a trifecta, freshman Jaylen Key split a pair at the line and Armstead closed the spurt with a pair of free throw as the Huskies took a 34-15 lead with just over eight minutes to play before the intermission.
Key finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
The Huskie lead would grow to as much as 24 in the half before NIU took a 23-point lead, 53-30, into the locker room.
After the break, Northern Illinois clamped down even more, holding Judson to just 15.9 percent shooting (6-of-38) in the second half as the Huskies won their ninth consecutive home game to start the season, and their 11th-straight home game overall, tying a school-record.
Drew Makiewicz scored 15 points to lead Judson; Andrew Eck added eight points and a team-high five rebounds for the Eagles.
NIU will begin Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday night, Jan. 6, as the Huskies host Ohio University. Game time against the Bobcats is slated for 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of NIU Athletics)
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