With their victory, the Flashes improve to 14-4 overall and 3-2 in Mid-American Conference play. It was the second-straight conference win for Kent State. The Huskies fall to 10-8 (3-2 MAC).
Senior Jaylin Walker led the Flashes' scoring and rebounding efforts with 31 points and eight rebounds. Junior Antonio Williams scored in double figures with 13 points. Senior Akiean Frederick, who had his best game of the season, added 12 points and three rebounds.
The Huskies used an 11-0 run over the next 4:27, giving NIU a 19-11 lead with 7:29 to play. A 3-pointer from Avery stopped the Huskies' run that cut NIU's lead to 19-14. With a minute left. A three from Walker and a long-range jumper from Philip Whittington combined for a 5-0 run that brought the Flashes within one-point of NIU, 27-26.
Northern ended the half with a jumper, but Kent State quickly answered after Williams was fouled as he threw up a last-second three, sending him to the charity stripe. Williams hit 2-of-3 shots and sent the Flashes into the locker room down two, 30-28.
Walker started a Kent State's scoring burst to begin the second half with a 3-pointer, followed by a dunk off a steal. Williams kept the run going with a dunk off an Avery assist. That lifted Kent State to a 37-34 lead. A pair of corner treys from Mitch Peterson and a spinning layup from Frederick capped a
Flashes 19-4 second-half run that put the Flashes ahead, 49-36.
By the 2:14 mark, the Huskies were able to close Kent State's lead to nine, but NIU was forced to start fouling the Flashes after a made layup by Walker put the Kent State up 71-60 with under two to play. KSU made five trips to the free throw line in the last two minutes, securing the 78-68 victory.
As a team, Kent State shot 27-of-57 (47.4 percent) from the field and 7-of-25 (28 percent) from long-range. The Huskies were at 42.9 percent (24-of-56) shooting.
NIU won the battle of the boards 33-30, allowing the Huskies to cash in on 19 second-chance points. Kent State shared the ball well as the Flashes finished with 13 assists. The Huskies had 14 miscues with the Flashes scoring 11 points from NIU's turnovers.
(Courtesy of KSU Athletics)