KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi), Adong Makuoi (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada/Daytona State College) and Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) all scored 15 points as the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team defeated Western Michigan, 75-56, on Tuesday night (Feb. 1) at University Arena. With the win, the Huskies snapped a 14-game road losing streak against the Broncos, winning in Kalamazoo for the first time since March 4, 2006. 

NIU shot 55.6 percent (30-of-54) from the field in the contest, including 41.7 percent (7-of-17) from three-point range, and 80 percent (8-of-10) from the free-throw line. 

"We played freely and played clean, 16 assists and 10 turnovers," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "The ball was moving, we had unbelievable floor balance. Three guys in double figures, three other guys close, so we had balance, and everyone contributed at different points in the game. This is probably our best game, in totality, the entire season."

NIU (6-13, 3-6 MAC) led by a half-dozen five minutes into the contest as Makuoi made a quick start, going 3-of-3 from the field to help the Huskies to an early 13-7 advantage. Hankerson added a triple during that quick start as NIU started the contest 6-of-8 from the floor. 

Makuoi finished the game 7-of-8 from the field on his way to a new career-high 15 points. 

Western Michigan (4-17, 0-10 MAC) pulled back within a pair, 15-13, before NIU answered with a 13-2 burst to take a 28-15 lead with just under eight minutes to play in the opening half. Chinedu Kingsley Okanu (Lynwood, Ill./Vincennes University) opened the run with a layup, Zool Kueth (Gallatin, Tenn./Pratt CC) and Williams both had triples during the spurt and Makuoi scored three points as the Huskies pushed the lead to 13.  

The Broncos answered right back with the next nine to cut the Huskie advantage to 28-24 before Williams finished an old-fashioned three-point play to push the lead back to seven with 3:52 left in the half. 

A bucket from Williams and a triple by Hankerson gave the Huskies an 11-point lead in the final minute of the half, but Western Michigan responded with a three as NIU went into the locker room in front, 38-30. 

Williams had 10 first half points to lead the way for the Huskies, Makuoi added nine as NIU shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the field, including 50 percent (4-of-8) from three in the opening 20 minutes. 

A 5-0 spurt brought Western Michigan within three but an old-fashioned three-point play from Okanu and a bucket from Williams increased the NIU lead to 48-40 just over five minutes into the second half. 

Five straight from Hankerson, followed by a free throw by Williams, increased the Huskie advantage to a dozen, 54-42, with under 12 minutes to play. 

In front by 10, Makuoi started a 9-0 Huskie run with a bucket. Anthony Crump (Inkster, Mich./Middle Tennessee) added a basket, Makuoi scored again, and Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) knocked in a trifecta to give NIU a 67-48 lead with just over four minutes remaining, putting the game out of reach.  

Crump finished with six points and a team-high eight rebounds while Thornton scored eight points and dished out a game-high seven assists. 

Lamar Norman Jr. was the only player in double figures for Western Michigan, he scored 24 points. 

NIU will return to the road on Saturday, Feb. 5 at Bowling Green. The Huskies will be back home in the NIU Convocation Center on Tuesday night, Feb. 8, when they host Akron, tip time against the Zips is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Tickets for all Huskie home games are still on sale, including Huskie Flex Plans. Purchase vouchers for $6 each and use them throughout the season to attend Huskie men's and women's basketball home games. Simply redeem vouchers for tickets at the box office prior to the game. Tickets can be purchased online at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).