DEKALB, Ill. – Toledo shot 64.5 percent (20-of-31) in the first half, and 56.3 percent (36-of-64) for the game, as the Rockets topped the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team, 100-72, on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 12) at the NIU Convocation Center. Four Huskies scored in double figures, led by 19 points from Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa), Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) added a career-high 18 points. 

Anthony Crump (Inkster, Mich./Middle Tennessee) chipped in 12 points and Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi) was the fourth Huskie in double figures with 10. 

"It was a disappointing performance," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "We didn't come in with the toughness and mindset that you have to be in to beat a tough Toledo team. They are the cream of the crop in the league, they have showed it throughout the season and, in our two games, pretty much handled us in those 80 minutes. 

"We will look at film and figure out what we need to do, but disappointed in our effort to compete at a level that it takes to play with Toledo."

Toledo (20-5, 12-2 MAC) made four of its first five three-point attempts as the Rockets took an early 14-10 lead. 

With Toledo still in front by four, a bucket from Thornton and a triple by Williams gave NIU a one-point lead, 20-19, with 11:23 to play in the half. The Rockets responded with a 15-0 run to take a 34-20 lead. 

NIU (6-16, 3-9) answered with the next six as Thornton ended the run with a layup. Crump added a free throw and then knocked in a trifecta from the wing to get the Huskies within eight, 34-26, with just under six minutes to play in the opening half. 

A triple from Thornton again trimmed the Toledo lead to eight, 40-32, but the Rockets closed the half on a 13-3 run to take a 53-35 advantage into the intermission. 

JT Shumate and RayJ Dennis each had 14 points in the opening 20 minutes for the visitors as Toledo shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from three in the first half. Williams led NIU with 12 first half points. 

In the second half, Thornton scored 11 of his career-high 18 points, going 5-of-8 from the field. Noah Kon (Houston, Texas/Houston Christian) also finished with a career-best six points, all of which came in the second half. 

Dennis and Ryan Rollins both finished with 22 points in the contest to lead the way for Toledo, Dennis added eight rebounds and eight assists. Shumate added 20 points and Setric Millner Jr. chipped in 17 points. The Rockets went 22-of-26 (84.6 percent) from the free-throw line in the game. 

NIU will return to action on Tuesday night, Feb. 15, when the Huskies begin a two-game road trip at Ball State. Another road game will follow on Thursday, Feb. 17, at Akron before the Huskies return home for "Cram the Convo" on Saturday, Feb. 19 against Miami.