Feb. 22, 2006
Akron, OH - The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team drained over 50.0% percent of their field-goal attempts against Akron on Saturday evening, marking the fifth time in the last seven games that the Huskies have accomplished that feat.
Unfortunately for NIU, the Zips shot an effective 46.4% from the field, including 12 three-pointers, and scored 27 points off 14 Huskie turnovers as Akron earned the 86-73 Mid-American Conference win at Rhodes Arena.
"We knew coming in here that Akron had a pretty good ball club and we would need to play our best basketball tonight to win," NIU head coach Rob Judson said. "It seemed like every time we turned the ball over, Akron capitalized."
Akron sophomore guard Cedrick Middleton came off the bench and led five Zips' players in double-figures with 17 points, 11 of which were scored in the second half. Junior point guard Dru Joyce added 16 points, followed by junior forward Romeo Travis (13 points), freshman forward Nate Linhart (12 points) and sophomore guard Nick Dials (10 points).
NIU sophomore guard Ben Rand topped the Huskies with 18 points, followed by senior forward Todd Peterson (17 points) and junior guard Mike McKinney (10 points). Senior guard Cory Sims scored seven points, while dishing out a game-high eight assists.
With the victory, Akron improves to 10-3 overall and remains undefeated in MAC play at 4-0. The Huskies fall to 8-5 on the season and 3-2 in MAC action.
NIU came out smoking in the opening stanza, as the Huskies connected on 60.9% (14-for-23) of their shots. Akron, however, shot 48.3% (14-for-29) from the field, including seven treys as the Zips took a 43-38 lead into halftime.
The Huskies answered with a 10-4 run to begin the second half, capped off by a five-point play by Peterson, to give NIU the 48-47 advantage with 16:43 left in the game. Peterson drained a three-pointer and was fouled after the shot, giving the Huskies another possession. On the in-bounds play, Peterson broke free for a 10-foot jumper, putting NIU ahead.
Middleton, however, put an end to the Huskies' brief lead as the Chicago Heights, IL, native led a 12-0 Akron run with eight points and two treys to put the Zips ahead for good at 59-48.
"Middleton certainly shot some daggers tonight," Judson said.
As a team, seven different Huskie players knocked down a three-pointer as NIU finished with a season-high, 12 treys. Their previous high of 10 was set against Aurora on November 26th. Peterson and senior guard Anthony Maestranzi (9 points) each knocked down three long distance shots to lead the Huskies.
NIU found itself in foul trouble for most of the night, as the Zips went to the free-throw line 26 times and converted 22 of their attempts.
The Huskies are back in action on Tuesday evening, as they host Ohio University for a 7:05 p.m. (CST) tip-off at the NIU Convocation Center.
(For further information, please contact Matt Brendich) - NIU -
