The Huskies started the second half with a 17-3 run and never looked back, Keshawn Williams led the way with a game-high 19 points, along with five rebounds and three assists. Trendon Hankerson added 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals, Anthony Crump had 12 points and six rebounds while Kaleb Thornton chipped in 11 points.
NIU (3-6) stormed out of the locker room to start the second half, using a 13-3 burst to take a 35-30 lead, forcing a Chicago State timeout five minutes into the period. Thornton and Hankerson each made triples to start the half, Williams added an old-fashioned three-point play before Crump and Hankerson finished at the rim to put the Huskies in front by five.
A free throw from Crump and a trifecta by Thornton helped the Huskie lead grow to 39-30 as the NIU run reached 14-0.
With Chicago State back within four, NIU used a 7-2 spurt to push its advantage to 46-37 with just over eight minutes to go. Hankerson ignited that burst with a triple before Williams and Crump each added baskets.
Hankerson made a pair of free throws with 5:22 to go that put the Huskies in front by double-digits and NIU made 15 free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.
The Huskies shot 50 percent (7-of-14) from three-point range in the contest and held a 15-5 edge in second chance points while outrebounding the Cougars, 39-32.
Brandon Betson scored 13 points to lead Chicago State, Jahsean Corbett added 11 points while Jameon Harris scored 10 points.
NIU will play its final road game of the calendar year on Sunday, Dec. 19, when it travels to UIC, before return home for the non-conference finale against Indiana State on Dec. 22 and the league opener with Ball State on Dec. 28.