DEKALB, Ill. -- Four Huskies scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough for the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team to overcome Western Michigan, who shot 53.2 percent from the field, and 52.4 percent from three, as the Broncos claimed a 73-63 win on Tuesday night (March 2) at the NIU Convocation Center. 

Sophomore Tyler Cochran (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds, his fourth career double-double, junior Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi) added 16 points, senior Nathan Scott (Naperville, Ill./Olney Central College) had a season-high 12 points and sophomore Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) tied a career-high with 10 points. 

"We got off to a decent start but had some of the same issues offensively and defensively," said NIU interim head coach Lamar Chapman. "We had a scoring drought, couldn't stop (Western Michigan) at times, second shots hurt us in the first half, but we have to make layups and free throws.

"We had our chances, but when you get on the offensive side after you get stops, you have to make shots."

A 9-2 run in the early going gave Western Michigan a 17-8 advantage with just over 12 minutes to play in the opening half.

NIU responded with the next six to trim the Broncos lead to just three. Thornton made a bucket to open the burst and Cochran added the next two as the Western Michigan lead was cut to 17-14 just past the midway point of the first half. 

Western Michigan used an 11-4 run to take a 28-18 lead with just over five minutes left in the opening stanza. The Broncos went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line during the spurt while NIU came up empty in five trips to the line as Western Michigan extended its advantage. 

Five points from Hankerson and three from Cochran in an 8-2 Huskie burst brought NIU back within four, 30-26. Western Michigan scored six of the next eight before Hankerson ended the half with a triple as the Broncos took a 36-31 lead into the break. 

Hankerson led all scorers with 11 points in the opening 20 minutes, Cochran added nine but Western Michigan's balanced attack shot 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the field and 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from three-point range. 

Western Michigan made six of its first seven shots to start the second half, including four triples, as the Broncos led, 52-42, five minutes into the second stanza. 

After the Broncos pushed their lead to 13, Scott knocked in a triple to ignite a 12-2 Huskie run. Cochran added six points and Thornton connected on a trifecta as NIU trimmed the Western Michigan lead to 54-51 with just under 12 minutes to play. 

Thornton finished with six assists, six steals and five rebounds to go along with his 10 points. 

The Broncos answered with a 10-2 run of their own as the lead ballooned back to double-digits, 64-53. Trailing by 10, NIU used a 7-2 mini run to cut the Western Michigan lead to 68-63, but the Broncos held the Huskies scoreless over the final five minutes en route to the victory. 

B Artis White led five players in double figures for Western Michigan with 15. Adrian Martin added 13 points for the Broncos while Greg Lee, Titus Wright and Jason Whitens each scored 10 points. 

NIU will close out the 2020-21 season on Friday, March 5, when the Huskies travel to Central Michigan. Game time against the Chippewas is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN3.