Dec. 3, 2008

Final Stats

Box Score in PDF Format

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Northern Illinois men's basketball team (3-5) committed just 10 turnovers, but was held to a season-low 36.4 shooting percentage, in a 67-55 loss at the hands of host Air Force (5-2) at Crune Arena Wednesday night. The setback was the Huskies' second-straight non-conference defeat.

Darion "Jake" Anderson led the Huskies in scoring for the fourth-consecutive game, as he and freshman guard Mike DiNunno each scored a team-high 15 points. Sophomore center Sean Kowal corralled a career-high 11 rebounds, and senior Sean Smith had nine points off the NIU bench. Matt Holland's 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting (5-for-6 from three-point range) led a threesome of Falcons in double figures.

The Huskies shot just 29.6 percent from the field in the first-half, including a 26.7 percent mark from three-point range. Air Force held statistical advantages in rebounds (34-30) and assists (18-10), and converted 16-of-21 attempts from the free throw line. NIU was just 8-of-15 from the charity stripe.

NIU got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 5-0 lead two and a half minutes into the game. But Air Force answered with a 10-0 run over the next 3:09, taking a 10-5 lead. The Falcons began to score against the Huskies' zone defense, extending their lead to double-digits, 21-11, with 6:11 remaining in the first half.

Air Force's lead reached a then-game-high 14 points (27-13) after a steal and transition dunk by Anwar Johnson, forcing head coach Ricardo Patton into his third timeout at the 3:52 mark of the opening frame. But the Huskies countered with a 9-2 spree to end the half, and were within seven, 29-22, heading into the locker room at halftime.

As has been the case in recent games, NIU came out hot in the second half, trimming the Falcons' lead to just four points twice in the first 1:30. But Air Force's Andrew Henke and Johnson connected on back-to-back field goals, and gave the Falcons a 36-27 lead with 15:26 remaining.

The Huskies continued to chip away with an ensuing 11-5 run, and cut Air Force's advantage to just three, 41-38, at the 12:38 mark. DiNunno had two three-pointers in the stretch. But the Falcons' Evan Washington split his two free throw attempts out of the previous media timeout, and gave Air Force a four-point (42-38) lead that it would not relinquish. NIU pulled within five points (45-40 and 47-42) twice in the next two minutes, but could draw no closer.

Over the next 5:06, the Falcons went on a commanding 15-4 run, and took its largest lead of 16 points, 62-46, with 4:44 remaining. The Huskies trimmed the lead to 12 points (62-50), but couldn't get back within single digits.

NIU will return home for just its second home game of the season Saturday, when the Huskies take on visiting Chicago State. Tip-off from the Convocation Center is set for 2 p.m.