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DEKALB, Ill. -- Freshman Marshawn Wilson (Oakdale, Minn./Hill-Murray) scored a game-high 17 points as the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team defeated Eureka, 100-52, on Saturday afternoon at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies dished out a school-record 32 assists on 39 field goals in the contest, including a career-best 10 from freshman Laytwan Porter (Rockford, Ill./Auburn).

With the victory, NIU improves to 4-0 for the first time since the 1994-95 season when the Huskies won their first nine games to start the season. NIU’s 32 assists betters the previous school-record of 31 set against Chicago State on Dec. 7, 1995. Porter’s 10 assists is the first 10-plus assist game by a Huskie since Mike DiNunno recorded 10 against Western Michigan on Jan. 13, 2010.

Senior Chuks Iroegbu (Sacramento, Calif./Franklin/City College of San Francisco) and freshman Jaylen Key (Milwaukee, Wis./Homestead) each added 12 points while freshman Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) was the fourth Huskie in double figures with 10 points, Bradley also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.  

“I thought our guys came out very focused, it was a business-like day,” said NIU head coach Mark Montgomery. “We put up 58 points in the first half, took care of the ball and shot a high percentage. I thought the first five that was in made a statement, they dictated how the game was going to go and I was proud of our defensive effort.”

NIU raced out to a quick start, scoring the first 12 points of the contest. Sophomore Marin Maric (Split, Croatia/La Lumiere School) scored seven of the first 12 as the Huskies jumped out to the early lead.

Maric finished with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field.

The Huskies pushed the lead to 58-25 at the intermission as NIU scored the final eight points of the opening 20 minutes. Wilson scored 14 points in the first half to lead all scorers; NIU shot 52.5 percent (21-of-40) in the first half.

After the intermission the Huskies continued to control the action, shooting 54.5 percent (18-of-33) in the second half.

The Huskies converted 18 Eureka turnovers into 30 points while turning the ball over just eight times in the contest; NIU also scored 26 fast-break points and got 62 points from the bench in the contest. NIU shot 88.2 percent (15-of-17) from the free-throw line in the game.

Junior guard Michael Orris (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee/Kansas State) tied a career-high with seven assists. Senior Travon Baker (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Consortium) and freshman Austin Pauga (Naperville, Ill./IMG Academy) each finished just shy of double figures with nine points.

Eureka was led by 13 points from Hank Thomas.

NIU will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 25, as the Huskies host Indiana University Northwest at the NIU Convocation Center. Game time against the RedHawks is slated for 7 p.m.