DEKALB, Ill. -- Five players scored in double figures as the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team coasted to a 93-62 victory over Bowling Green on Tuesday night at the NIU Convocation Center. NIU shot 61.3 percent (38-of-62) from the field in the contest, including 75.9 percent (22-of-29) in the second half. 

Sophomore Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 from three, junior Lacey James (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rider) scored a career-high 15 points, junior Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) added 14 points, junior Dante Thorpe (Washington, D.C./Triton College) scored 12 points and had a game-high nine rebounds and sophomore Justin Thomas (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) added 10 points. 

"Getting back in the winner's circle feels great," said NIU head coach Mark Montgomery. "After you have two tough road games, guys have to overcome some adversity and I thought they answered the bell. We probably had our two best practices Sunday and Monday, our two hardest practices, and it pays off. When you win, it gets the guys to buy-in and believe that what you are telling them in true.

"I thought we probably played our best game of the year. I have never been on a team that shoots 76 percent in the second half. It seemed like everything we threw up went in, but let's not kid ourselves, Lacey James and Levi Bradley got us going with our inside play and that opened some things up outside."

The Huskies committed just seven turnovers in the contest, two of which came in the final minute with the result no longer in doubt. NIU scored 50 points in the paint to just 22 for Bowling Green while also outscoring the Falcons, 23-12, off turnovers. 

NIU (10-10, 3-4 MAC) led by seven coming out of the intermission but Bowling Green trimmed the lead down to a half-dozen in the opening five minutes of the second half. 

Seven-straight points from sophomore Noah McCarty (Rock Falls, Ill./Sterling Newman), his only seven points of the contest, just the Huskie advantage to 48-35 until four-straight points from the Falcons cut the lead back to single-digits. 

Thomas scored the next four on a pull-up jumper to beat the buzzer and a reverse layup to start a 14-1 Huskie run as well as a stretch in which NIU made 13 consecutive field goal attempts. 

The first bucket from Thomas came with 12:40 remaining and the Huskies didn't miss again from the field until the 4:27 mark. NIU outscored Bowling Green 33-10 during that stretch as German connected on four of his five triples during that run. Thomas scored seven in the burst as NIU's lead grew to 81-49. 

NIU's advantage grew to as large as 39 before Bowling Green scored the final eight points of the contest. 

Rodrick Caldwell scored 13 points to pace the Falcons, Demajeo Wiggins added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds. 

Bowling Green (12-8, 3-4 MAC) and NIU traded leads early in the contest. The Falcons were in front by one, 17-16, before NIU regained the lead with an 11-2 run as the Huskies moved in front, 27-19, with 6:47 to play before halftime. James scored the first five of the run on a basket and an old-fashioned three-point play. Thorpe, Bradley and freshman Gairges Daow (Melbourne, Australia/Victory Rock Academy) each added a pair in the spurt. 

The Huskie lead grew to as large as 10 in the opening 20 minutes but Bowling Green scored five of the final seven points of the half to cut the lead back to seven at the intermission. 

NIU will go back on the road for the next two, beginning this Saturday, Jan. 27, when the Huskies travel to Western Michigan. NIU will return home to the Convocation Center on Saturday, Feb. 3 when it hosts Miami. Tickets are on sale now through the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or online at NIUHuskies.com. Reserved lower bowl seats are just $10 while general admission is available for $8.