DEKALB, IL -- Dae Dae Grant scored 26 points, including five during a late Miami run, as the RedHawks edged Northern Illinois 69-64 Saturday at the NIU Convocation Center.
The hosting Huskies battled throughout while trying to pick up . . .
The Huskies finished with five more field goals than MU after hitting 49.1% from the field overall. They were good on 69 percent in the second half.
Miami connected on 39.6 percent (21/53) from the floor, but had a 38-28 rebound advantage and made 20-of-24 free throw opportunities. Northern Illinois sank 5-of-10 charity tosses.
Five RedHawks scored in the contest. Delonte Brown joined Grant in double figures with 16 points and also posted a double-double by grabbing 12 rebounds. Mekhi Lairy chipped in 14 points.
Trendon Hankerson topped NIU, hitting 8-of-14 shots overall, including 5-of-9 treys. Tyler Cochran added 11 points, while Zool Kueth netted 10.
The Huskies lead 23-19 with 4:20 left in the first half, but they scored just four more points before intermission. Miami ran off 13 during that stretch and led 32-27 at the break.
The RedHawks enjoyed their biggest lead (54-40) with 10:28 remaining in the second stanza.This time, however, it was NIU making a run. Two free throws by Kueth at 2:41 cut Miami's margin to 62-60.
Brown scored on a layup at the other end and Grant followed two free throws to give the visitors some room. His trey with 29 seconds left sealed the verdict as the Huskies final four points left them five short at the buzzer.
"I thought we let this one get away. We fought back in the second half and gave ourselves a chance to win the game, but I didn't like the way we closed the first half," said NIU interim head coach Lamar Chapman. "I liked our fight and our effort (in the second half) to make it a one possession game. Unfortunately our execution down the stretch failed us and we came up short."