PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team shot 50 percent from the field in the first half but could not keep pace with Pittsburgh in the second 20 minutes, falling on the road at the Petersen Events Center, 89-59, on Saturday night (Dec. 5). 

Junior guard Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi) tied his career-high with 18 points, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, but the Panthers shot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) in the second half and finished the game shooting 50 percent (30-of-60) from the field and 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from three. 

"Tough game, our guys competed, they battled, with four minutes to go in the first half we were down seven, then Pitt went on a big run," said NIU head coach Mark Montgomery. "Just too many turnovers and they were knocking down shots, but I thought our guys came out with great energy, good effort. Credit Pitt, they came in not shooting well, but they really shot the ball well tonight." 

Junior Adong Makuoi (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada/Daytona State College) had a career-best nine points along with five rebounds, fellow junior Chinedu Kingsley Okanu (Gary, Ind./Vincennes University) also netted a career-best with eight points. Junior Anthony Crump (Inkster, Mich./Middle Tennessee State) grabbed a team-high nine rebounds while sophomore Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) dished out a team-high five assists. 

A deep trifecta from Hankerson pulled the Huskies even, 7-7, less than three minutes into the contest after the Panthers had taken an early lead. 

Pittsburgh (2-1) built an eight-point edge until five-straight from Hankerson, including his second triple of the contest, trimmed the Panther lead to just three, 17-14, with 13:48 left before the intermission. 

The Pittsburgh lead grew to 10 until Hankerson knocked in his third triple of the half to bring the Huskies back within seven, 34-27. 

An 11-0 run by the Panthers helped the lead balloon to 45-27 late in the first half before Hankerson kissed a layup off the glass to end the scoring in the opening 20 minutes. 

NIU (0-3) shot 50 percent (13-of-26) form the field in the opening half, but Pittsburgh made nine triples in the first half, going 9-of-20 from beyond the arc (45 percent). Justin Champagnie scored 15 points with seven rebounds to pace the Panthers in the opening stanza while Hankerson had 15 points, including three triples, before the break.

Pittsburgh remained hot from beyond the three-point line as it made three of its first four triples to start the second half and continued that hot shooting throughout the half.

Champagnie led all scorers in the contest with 22 points along with a game-high 10 rebounds. Ithiel Horton, Xavier Johnson and Au'Diese Toney each added 15 points for the Panthers. 

NIU will begin league play on Tuesday night, December 8, when the Huskies welcome Ball State to DeKalb. Game time against the Cardinals is scheduled for 6 p.m.