Malique Jacobs led the way for KSU with 13 points, three rebounds, and five assists, while four other Flashes reached double-digits. Justyn Hamilton added . . .
Northern Illinois, playing its first game since Jan. 16, was led by Trendon Hankerson and Tyler Cochran. They registered 13 points apiece.
Despite trailing 6-2 early, KSU used a 7-0 run to take a 9-6 lead and controlled the game the rest of the way. Holding a double-figure lead most of the rest of the way, the Flashes cruised to a 32-20 lead at halftime. After NIU closed within 49-33 with 11:23 left to play, the Flashes answered with an 11-2 run to go up 27 and extended the lead from there.
NOTES:
>> NIU held a 47-40 rebounding edge.
>> Northern Illinois struggled from the line, connecting on just 8-of-19 opportunities.
> “I thought holding (Kent State) to 32 in the first half was pretty good, they were on pace to score 64 and I thought we could score 65,” said NIU interim head coach Lamar Chapman. “Our offense, shot selection, passing, missed free throws, missed layups, we hadn’t played in four weeks, but you have to make layups and have to make better decisions on the offensive side. Our defense in the first half was pretty good, that is the positive we can take from today.”
>> The Flashes held NIU to 20 points on 25 percent shooting in the first half. It was the third time Kent State has held an opponent to fewer than 60 points this season.
>> Kent State dished out a season-high 20 assists in the game while also scoring 20 points off 14 NIU miscues.
>> For the game, Kent State shot 42.6 percent from the floor and 42.3 percent from long range, while limiting the Huskies to 32.8 percent shooting from the floor.