EVANSTON, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team was within five with just over 10 minutes to play but a late Northwestern run helped the Wildcats to a 63-46 victory over the Huskies on Friday night (Nov. 11) at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) scored a game-high 19 points to pace the Huskies.
David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) added nine points while
Zarique Nutter (Newark, N.J./Clarendon College) chipped in seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.
"I thought our guys were focused," said NIU head coach
Rashon Burno. "We had a really good 48 hours, with the addition of (Zarique) Nutter, Xavier (Amos) and Harvin (Ibarguen), guys who haven't really practiced in the last two weeks. So, getting guys back who are going to be in the rotation is phenomenal. We just have to work this thing through, the good thing is they got some positive out of tonight and these guys will be chomping at the bit to play on Monday."
After Northwestern went in front by a half-dozen, 14-8, Williams answered with the next five to pull the Huskies back within one. Williams converted an old-fashioned three-point play before connecting on a floater to cut the Wildcat lead to 14-13 with just under 14 minutes to play in the opening half.
Northwestern's lead grew back to eight, 21-13, until a three-point play from Coit and a layup from Williams brought NIU back to within three, 21-18, with 8:37 left in the first half.
The Wildcats used a 7-0 burst to lead, 30-19, with a little over four minutes left in the opening 20 minutes. Nutter ended the run with a basket for the Huskies and sparked an 8-2 response from NIU as the Huskies trimmed the Northwestern lead back to five, 32-27. Williams scored the other six points for NIU during the run.
Northwestern scored the final four points of the half as the Wildcats took a 36-27 lead into the intermission.
Williams scored 15 points in the opening 20 minutes for the Huskies, who shot 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the field in the half. Robbie Beran led Northwestern with 13 points as the Wildcats took advantage of 11 Huskie turnovers, converting them into 13 points.
The Northwestern lead grew to a dozen early in the second half until a 7-2 burst by the Huskies brought NIU back within seven. Coit knocked in a triple before Williams and
Harvin Ibarguen (Cali, Colombia/Seward County CC) each converted a pair at the line to trim the Northwestern lead to 43-36 with just under 15 minutes to play.
Trailing 48-38,
Xavier Amos (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) scored five-straight to cut the Northwestern advantage to just five, 48-43, with 10:49 remaining, forcing a Wildcat timeout.
Northwestern answered with the next 10 as the Wildcat lead grew to 58-43 with a little over six minutes left.
Beran finished with a team-high 15 points for the Wildcats. Boo Buie scored 13 points and Ty Berry finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Northwestern held NIU to just 6-of-28 shooting (21.4 percent) in the second half.
NIU will return home on Monday, Nov. 14, as the Huskies host Purdue Northwest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.
Season tickets for Huskie Basketball are also still on sale and can be purchased at NIUHuskies.com. Men's basketball season tickets start at $80 for a "Huskie Land" general admission season ticket in sections 115-118 (lower bowl baseline). A reserved, lower bowl sideline seat is $120. NIU faculty and staff, NIU Alumni Association and Varsity Club members, senior citizens and 2022 NIU Football season ticket members can purchase men's basketball season tickets for $105.
