KENT, Ohio – Kent State shot 59.3 percent (16-of-27) in the second half as the Golden Flashes topped the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team, 78-68, on Saturday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center. NIU led by a pair at the half but couldn't keep pace with the Golden Flashes in the second half as the Huskie shot just 40.7 percent (11-of-27) after the intermission. 

Senior Lacey James (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rider) recorded his fifth career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, junior Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) scored 20 points, senior Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) added 12 and senior Dante Thorpe (Washington, D.C./Triton College) chipped in 10 points. 

Kent State (14-4, 3-2 MAC) led by three in the early going before a 7-0 burst put the Huskies in front, 15-11, with just under eight minutes to play in the opening half. James began the spurt with a basket, Bradley then added an up-and-under layup and a triple to give the Huskies a four-point lead. 

A step-through layup from junior Noah McCarty (Rock Falls, Ill./Sterling Newman) and a pair of free throws from Thorpe increased the NIU run to 11-0 as the Huskies led by eight with 6:40 to play in the half. 

Kent State chipped away at the NIU (10-8, 3-2 MAC) advantage as the Golden Flashes made four first half three-pointers to just one for the Huskies. The NIU lead was four following a layup by German with six seconds to play in the half but Antonio Williams was fouled for Kent State shooting a three in the final second. Williams made 2-of-3 from the line to trim the Huskie lead to just a pair, 30-28, at the break. 

Kent State scored seven of the first nine out of the intermission to take a three-point lead, 35-32. After a put-back by sophomore Gairges Daow (Melbourne, Australia/Victory Rock Academy) brought NIU back within one, Kent State used a 7-1 run to take a 42-35 lead with 13:44 to play. 

After the Golden Flashes ballooned their lead to 13, NIU answered with the next six, three from German and three from James, to trim the Kent State lead back to just seven. But the Golden Flashes responded with the next six as the lead went right back to 13, 55-42. 

The Kent State lead grew to as much as 15; NIU finally got a few three-point shots to go late in the contest as Bradley and sophomore Rod Henry-Hayes (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) each made one and German made a pair as the Huskies got within seven. NIU couldn't get enough stops however as the Golden Flashes improved to 9-2 at home this season. 

Jaylin Walker scored a game-high 31 points to lead Kent State, Williams added 13 points and Akiean Frederick added 12 points. 

NIU will return home on Tuesday night, January 22, as the Huskies host 16th-ranked Buffalo. Tip-off against the Bulls is slated for 7 p.m. Tickets are available from the NIU Convocation Center Box Office, by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or by visiting NIUHuskies.com/tickets.