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Michael Patton hit four three-pointer en route to 14 points off the bench, Wednesday.

Men's Basketball

Stifling First Half Leads Huskies Past Western Michigan, 78-63

Feb. 25, 2009

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DeKALB, Ill. - Four NIU players posted double-figures in scoring, and the Huskies recorded a stifling first-half defensive effort, as the Northern Illinois men's basketball team (9-17, 4-9 MAC) tallied a 78-63 win over previous Mid-American Conference West-Division leading Western Michigan at the Convocation Center Wednesday night.

Sophomore guard Darion "Jake" Anderson, the MAC's fourth-leading scorer, poured in 26 points to lead NIU. WMU David Kool, who came into the contest ranked second in the league in scoring, tossed in 31 points, including 25 in the second-half. Mike DiNunno, Michael Patton and Sean Smith all chipped in 14 points, joining Anderson in double figures.

NIU held the Broncos to just a 10 percent (2-of-20) shooting effort in the first half. WMU kept the margin at 14 points by drilling 11-of-14 first half free throw attempts.

The Huskies held a 42-28 rebounding advantage, and went 12-for-24 from three-point range. NIU's out-dueled the Broncos' reserves, 33-17.

WMU missed its first nine attempts from the field, allowing the Huskies to jump out to an early 16-4 lead with 10:07 remaining in the first half. The Broncos pulled within seven (19-12) at the 5:38 mark, before NIU went on a 10-2 spurt to take a commanding 29-13 lead with 1:29 remaining in the opening stanza. WMU's Michael Redell hit two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to pull the Broncos within 14 points, 29-15, heading into the locker room at halftime.

NIU stretched its lead to 17 points twice in the opening 90 seconds of the second half, but Kool single-handedly took control of the game, and pulled WMU within eight points (40-32) with 14:08 remaining. Kool scored 14 points in the first 5:52 of the second frame.

The Huskies held at least an 11-point lead for the ensuing 5:07, before Kool's final field goal trimmed NIU's lead to nine, 61-52, with 2:57 remaining. Patton countered with his fourth three of the game on the other end, and NIU never relinquished its double-digit advantage down the stretch.

NIU will host MAC-West leading Ball State as part of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader Saturday at the Convocation Center beginning at 2 p.m. NIU senior forward Sean Smith, along with four-year student manager Adam Terrell, will be honored in a senior day recognition ceremony prior to the contest.

NOTEWORTHY:
- NIU shot 71 percent (22-of-31) from the free throw line, just its fifth single-game effort of at least 70 percent this season.
- Michael Patton's 14 points were a season-best mark, and his four three-pointers tied a career-high.
- Darion "Jake" Anderson tied his career-high with five three-pointers for the second-consecutive game - his 26 points were the most since pouring in 32 points versus Chicago State on Dec. 6, 2008.
- Najul Ervin corralled a team-high eight rebounds, marking the sixth time this season he has led the Huskies in rebounding.
- NIU held its opponent under 40 percent shooting for the fourth time in the past six games.
- Northern Illinois shot 50 percent (12-of-24) from three-point range for the second time this season - the Huskies also made one-half of their three-point attempts against Toledo on Jan. 10.
- The Huskies' win over the Broncos, coupled with last Saturday's 97-73 win at Southeast Missouri, gave NIU back-to-back wins for the first time since Nov. 15 and Nov. 18, 2008, when the Huskies defeated Western Illinois and Indiana State, respectively.

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