DEKALB, Ill. – Six players scored in double figures as the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat Olivet Nazarene, 95-69, on Wednesday night at the NIU Convocation Center. Senior Marin Maric (Split, Croatia/La Lumiere School) led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds. 

NIU (5-5) shot 58.8 percent (40-of-68) from the field in the contest, the Huskies had a 58-30 advantage in points in the paint and a 31-12 edge in points off turnovers. Senior Aaric Armstead (Chicago, Ill./La Jolla Prep) scored 16 points with five rebounds and three assists. 

"We weren't defending," said NIU head coach Mark Montgomery about the slow start. "They were making shots, they shot 57 percent in the first half … I thought after our timeout we responded with a (32-13) run. Your first unit has to come out and get you going but we had a slow start."

Olivet Nazarene jumped out to an early lead as a basket from Tyler Crater with 11:40 to play in the opening half gave the Tigers a seven-point advantage, 20-13. 

Sophomore Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) started a 9-2 burst for the Huskies with a jumper just past the midway point of the opening half. Armstead added the next five points during the spurt for the Huskies and senior Dontel Highsmith (Dowagiac, Mich./Dowagiac) made a pair of free throws to pull the Huskies even, 24-24, with 8:27 left in the first half. 

Bradley scored 12 points with six rebounds while Highsmith scored 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field with a pair of assists. 

The Tigers reclaimed the lead by three, 30-27, before a basket by freshman Justin Thomas (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) with 5:46 to play in the half ignited a 20-5 run to close the opening 20 minutes. Five different players scoring during the run, including a pair of triples from sophomore Austin Pauga (Naperville, Ill./IMG Academy), the second coming from the corner with 20 seconds to play before the intermission as NIU took a 47-35 lead into the break. 

Thomas led NIU with nine points in the opening 20 minutes; Crater scored 10 for Olivet Nazarene to lead all scorers. NIU shot 60 percent (18-of-30) in the opening half while Olivet Nazarene shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28) in the first half. 

After Olivet Nazarene scored the opening two points of the second half, NIU used a 10-0 run to push the lead to 20. Armstead opened the burst with a triple, sophomore Jaylen Key (Milwaukee, Wis./Homestead) and Maric each added a pair and Highsmith finished the run with a trifecta as the Huskies took a 57-37 lead with 17:20 remaining as the Huskies pulled away from the Tigers. 

Thomas finished the night with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting with a game-high five assists, fellow freshman Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) added 10 points, four rebounds and four assists. 

Crater led Olivet Nazarene with 12 points, Josiah Blan added 11 and Nic Reed chipped in 10 points. 

The Huskies will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 17, when they open a two-game roadtrip in the Sunshine State at Florida International. Game time against the Panthers is slated for 6 p.m. CT.