• Blog
  • About Us
  • Links
  MAC Reporter Online

Huskies roll after cold start

12/15/2016

 
Picture
DEKALB, Ill. – Six players scored in double figures as the Northern Illinois Huskies overcame a slow start to defeat Olivet Nazarene, 95-69, on Wednesday night at the NIU Convocation Center. Senior Marin led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds. 

NIU (5-5) shot 58.8 percent (40-of-68) from the field in the contest, the Huskies had a 58-30 advantage in points in the paint and a 31-12 edge in points off turnovers. Senior Aaric Armstead scored 16 points with five rebounds and three assists. 

"We weren't . . . 

. . . defending," said NIU head coach Mark Montgomery about the slow start. "They were making shots, they shot 57 percent in the first half … I thought after our timeout we responded with a (32-13) run. Your first unit has to come out and get you going but we had a slow start."

Olivet Nazarene jumped out to an early lead as a basket from Tyler Crater with 11:40 to play in the opening half gave the Tigers a seven-point advantage, 20-13. 

Sophomore Levi Bradley started a 9-2 burst for the Huskies with a jumper just past the midway point of the opening half. Armstead added the next five points during the spurt for the Huskies and senior Dontel Highsmith  made a pair of free throws to pull the Huskies even, 24-24, with 8:27 left in the first half. 

Bradley scored 12 points with six rebounds while Highsmith scored 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field with a pair of assists. 

The Tigers reclaimed the lead by three, 30-27, before a basket by freshman Justin Thomas with 5:46 to play in the half ignited a 20-5 run to close the opening 20 minutes. Five different players scored during the run, including a pair of triples from sophomore Austin Pauga, the second coming from the corner with 20 seconds to play before the intermission as NIU took a 47-35 lead into the break. 

Thomas led NIU with nine points in the opening 20 minutes; Crater scored 10 for Olivet Nazarene to lead all scorers. NIU shot 60 percent (18-of-30) in the opening half while Olivet Nazarene shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28) in the first half. 

After Olivet Nazarene scored the opening two points of the second half, NIU used a 10-0 run to push the lead to 20. Armstead opened the burst with a triple, sophomore Jaylen Key and Maric each added a pair and Highsmith completed the run with a trifecta as the Huskies took a 57-37 lead with 17:20 remaining as the Huskies pulled away from the Tigers. 

Thomas finished the night with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting with a game-high five assists, fellow freshman Eugene German added 10 points, four rebounds and four assists. 

Crater led Olivet Nazarene with 12 points, Josiah Blan added 11 and Nic Reed chipped in 10 points. 

The Huskies will return to action on Saturday, when they open a two-game road trip in the Sunshine State at Florida International. Game time against the Panthers is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
 
(Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    MAC Football 

    UPCOMING GAMES
    All times Eastern

    ​

    MAC FOOTBALL STANDINGS
    -- Final - 2022 -- 
    MAC EAST
    OHIO 7-1
    BUFFALO 5-3
    BOWLING GREEN 5-3

    MIAMI 4-4
    KENT STATE 4-4
    AKRON 1-7

    MAC WEST
    TOLEDO 5-3

    EASTERN MICHIGAN 5-3
    WESTERN MICHIGAN 4-4
    ​BALL STATE 3-5
    CENTRAL MICHIGAN 3-5

    NORTHERN ILLINOIS 2-6

    MAC Basketball 
    MAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
    CLICK HERE

    ​





    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Other

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly