DEKALB, Ill. - Senior Aaron Armstead and Jordan Threloff led the way as the Northern Illinois Huskies earned their third consecutive victory with a 65-63 win over Western Michigan on Tuesday night at the NIU Convocation Center.
Aaron Armstead scored a season-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting (4-of-5 from three-point range), and Threloff added 13 points with seven rebounds as the Huskies snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Broncos.
NIU (13-15, 7-10 MAC) trailed by six at the half but the Huskies shot 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the field in the second half to overcome the deficit. After not shooting a single free throw in the first half, the Huskies earned 23 trips to the line after intermission.
"It was just like the game in Kalamazoo; neither team could get much separation," NIU head coach Mark Montgomery said. "Playing Western Michigan is like a mirror image of playing ourselves, they are a tough team, well-coached with good players.
"It is always tough on Senior Day. You have a lot of emotions and a different starting lineup. In the first half we were a little out of sync, but in the second half we starting clicking. Aaron Armstead had a big game and Jordan (Threloff) had the big block. I thought we were a lot more aggressive in the second half."
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Aaron Armstead scored a season-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting (4-of-5 from three-point range), and Threloff added 13 points with seven rebounds as the Huskies snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Broncos.
NIU (13-15, 7-10 MAC) trailed by six at the half but the Huskies shot 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the field in the second half to overcome the deficit. After not shooting a single free throw in the first half, the Huskies earned 23 trips to the line after intermission.
"It was just like the game in Kalamazoo; neither team could get much separation," NIU head coach Mark Montgomery said. "Playing Western Michigan is like a mirror image of playing ourselves, they are a tough team, well-coached with good players.
"It is always tough on Senior Day. You have a lot of emotions and a different starting lineup. In the first half we were a little out of sync, but in the second half we starting clicking. Aaron Armstead had a big game and Jordan (Threloff) had the big block. I thought we were a lot more aggressive in the second half."
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The Huskies took their first lead of the second half at the 11:25 mark when Aaron Armstead knocked down a triple to push the Huskies in front, 44-43. After a basket by the Broncos, junior Travon Baker made a pair from the line, followed by two from the charity stripe from sophomore Aaric Armstead) as NIU led 48-45 with 9:32 to play.
Baker finished with seven points and five assists, while Aaric Armstead added six points off the bench.
After Western Michigan cut the lead to one, Aaron Armstead knocked in another triple to push the Huskie advantage to four, 51-47.
Still trailing by four, the Broncos made back-to-back baskets to pull even, 53-53, with just under seven minutes to play.
The Huskies made a free throw, but Western Michigan answered with a triple to take a 56-54 lead. NIU responded as junior Darrell Bowie scored the next five to push the Huskies back in front, 59-56, with just over four minutes remaining.
Bowie scored nine points in 16 minutes off the bench.
Four consecutive free throws by Western Michigan swung the lead back to the Broncos as the clock ticked under three minutes left, but NIU had the answer again as a basket by Threloff and Aaron Armstead's fourth triple of the night gave the Huskies a 64-60 lead with 1:59 to play.
David Brown got to the rim for a layup with 46 seconds to play as the Broncos pulled to within a pair. Following an offensive foul by the Huskies, Western Michigan fed the ball into the post to Connar Tava looking for the tie, but Threloff came up with a block and the rebound.
Western Michigan fouled Threloff with seven seconds left and the senior from DeKalb split a pair of free throws to give NIU a 65-62 lead.
To avoid a three-point shot to tie, NIU fouled the Broncos with four seconds left. Thomas Wilder made the first to cut the lead to two and missed the second intentionally. Western Michigan grabbed the offensive rebound, but a put-back attempt fell short as the Huskies held on for the Senior Night win.
Wilder and Brown each scored 14 points to lead the Broncos, Tava added 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds.
Late in the first half, redshirt freshman Marin Maric converted a layup with four minutes to play to pull NIU within one, 23-22, but the Broncos ended the half with a 7-2 burst to take a 30-24 lead into the intermission.
Maric had seven points and a team-high tying seven rebounds.
NIU will close the regular season on Friday night, March 6, as the Huskies travel to Muncie, Ind., to face Ball State. Game time against the Cardinals is slated for 6 p.m. CT. Western Michigan hosts Central Michigan (7 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of NIU Athletics/MRO Edit)
Baker finished with seven points and five assists, while Aaric Armstead added six points off the bench.
After Western Michigan cut the lead to one, Aaron Armstead knocked in another triple to push the Huskie advantage to four, 51-47.
Still trailing by four, the Broncos made back-to-back baskets to pull even, 53-53, with just under seven minutes to play.
The Huskies made a free throw, but Western Michigan answered with a triple to take a 56-54 lead. NIU responded as junior Darrell Bowie scored the next five to push the Huskies back in front, 59-56, with just over four minutes remaining.
Bowie scored nine points in 16 minutes off the bench.
Four consecutive free throws by Western Michigan swung the lead back to the Broncos as the clock ticked under three minutes left, but NIU had the answer again as a basket by Threloff and Aaron Armstead's fourth triple of the night gave the Huskies a 64-60 lead with 1:59 to play.
David Brown got to the rim for a layup with 46 seconds to play as the Broncos pulled to within a pair. Following an offensive foul by the Huskies, Western Michigan fed the ball into the post to Connar Tava looking for the tie, but Threloff came up with a block and the rebound.
Western Michigan fouled Threloff with seven seconds left and the senior from DeKalb split a pair of free throws to give NIU a 65-62 lead.
To avoid a three-point shot to tie, NIU fouled the Broncos with four seconds left. Thomas Wilder made the first to cut the lead to two and missed the second intentionally. Western Michigan grabbed the offensive rebound, but a put-back attempt fell short as the Huskies held on for the Senior Night win.
Wilder and Brown each scored 14 points to lead the Broncos, Tava added 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds.
Late in the first half, redshirt freshman Marin Maric converted a layup with four minutes to play to pull NIU within one, 23-22, but the Broncos ended the half with a 7-2 burst to take a 30-24 lead into the intermission.
Maric had seven points and a team-high tying seven rebounds.
NIU will close the regular season on Friday night, March 6, as the Huskies travel to Muncie, Ind., to face Ball State. Game time against the Cardinals is slated for 6 p.m. CT. Western Michigan hosts Central Michigan (7 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of NIU Athletics/MRO Edit)
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