DEKALB, Ill. -- Senior Marin Maric (Split, Croatia/La Lumiere School) recorded his 25th career double-double but the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team fell to Western Michigan, 70-56, on Senior Night at the NIU Convocation Center. 

Maric scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed a game-best 12 rebounds, senior Dontel Highsmith (Dowagiac, Mich./Dowagiac) also reached double figures with 11 points. 

"I'm disappointed that we didn't muster up enough to win the game," said NIU head coach Mark Montgomery. "I'm proud of Aaric Armstead and Marin Maric, they are two seniors who have given a lot to help change the culture of the program. I just thought we didn't play hard enough in the first half. If we could play like we did the first 10 minutes of the second half, when we started with nine out of 10 stops, got out in transition and shared the ball, we would have something.

"Credit Western (Michigan), they kept making plays when we would cut into the gap, maybe we ran out of gas."

Trailing by four in the early going, NIU used a five-point burst to move in front, 10-9. Maric opened the burst with a layup, sophomore Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) added a dunk and freshman Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) made a free throw to give NIU the lead with just over 14 minutes to play in the opening half. 

Western Michigan answered with nine of the next 11 as the Broncos moved in front by a half-dozen, 18-12. 

A triple from sophomore Jaylen Key (Milwaukee, Wis./Homestead) and a put-back by Maric ignited a 7-0 Huskie run. Highsmith finished the run with a pair of free throws as NIU moved in front, 19-18, with 7:47 to play before the intermission. 

The Broncos had taken a five-point lead before a triple from Key trimmed the Western Michigan lead to a pair. Western Michigan then closed the half on a 13-4 run as it took a 39-29 lead into halftime. 

NIU and Western Michigan traded baskets to open the second half before the Huskies used an 8-0 run to pull within a pair, 41-39. Bradley, Highsmith, Maric and freshman Justin Thomas (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) each had a pair during the run for the Huskies. 

Western Michigan responded with eight of its own, including a pair of triples, as the Broncos saw their lead grow back to 10 with just over 12 minutes left. 

The Bronco led had grown to 11 until a triple by Bradley and a fastbreak layup from Thomas trimmed the lead almost in half, 57-51, with 7:24 remaining. Western Michigan had the answer again however, as the Broncos scored the next seven to push the lead to 13 en route to a road victory. 

Tucker Haymond led Western Michigan with 15 points, Thomas Wilder added 13 and Reggie Jones chipped in 12 for the Broncos. Western Michigan shot 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the field in the contest, including 45 percent (9-of-20) from three. 

NIU will finish the regular season on Friday night, March 3, as the Huskies travel to Muncie, Ind., to face Ball State. Game time against the Cardinals is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.