MUNCIE, Ind. – Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi) and Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) each scored 19 points as the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team won on the road at Ball State, 64-58, on Tuesday night (Feb. 15) in Worthen Arena. 

Tied at the half, the Huskies shot 50 percent (11-of-22) from the field in the second 20 minutes, while holding the Cardinals to just 34.5 percent (10-of-29) to earn the road victory. 

Chinedu Kingsley Okanu (Lynwood, Ill./Vincennes University) added 10 points in less than 10 minutes while dealing with foul trouble. Darweshi Hunter (Cincinnati, Ohio/Weber State) and Adong Makuoi (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada/Daytona State College) each had a team-high seven rebounds. 

"The heart is not going to show up in the stat sheet, but these guys played hard," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "We came out and we showed grit. Guys made plays, Trendon (Hankerson) had some big shots, Keshawn (Williams) had some big shots. Everyone stepped up, Kingsley (Okanu) had a big 10 points."

Tied at 27 at the intermission, Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) opened the second half with a triple from the wing. Hankerson and Williams each added trifectas in the opening five minutes of the second stanza, helping NIU to a 38-33 lead. 

Okanu scored eight-straight Huskie points to help NIU maintain its lead and, when Thornton knocked in a 15-foot jumper, the Huskies were in front 48-39 just past the midway point of the second half, forcing a Cardinal timeout. 

The Huskie lead was five, 54-49, with five minutes remaining and Hankerson made a free-throw to help the NIU advantage grow to a half-dozen. 

An old-fashioned three-point play from Williams gave the Huskies a 58-51 lead with 2:26 left. Ball State trimmed the visitors advantage back to just four with a minute to play, but Williams made a pair of free throws on the next possession and the Huskies went 5-of-6 from the stripe in the final minute to secure the road win. 

Payton Sparks scored a team-high 16 points for Ball State, Miryne Thomas added 11 and Demarius Jacobs chipped in 10 points for the Cardinals. 

Early in the contest, Hankerson made a pair of triples to give the Huskies a lead. After the second Hankerson trifecta, Ball State scored the next half-dozen as the Cardinals moved in front, 11-6, with 14:35 to play in the opening half. 

NIU answered back with the next six as Makuoi and Hunter each made free throws, followed by a bucket from Makuoi and a finish by Williams as the Huskies took a 12-11 advantage just before the midway point of the first half. 

Williams extended the Huskie advantage to three with another basket before Ball State scored the next six to move back in front, 17-14, with just over six minutes to play before the break. 

An old-fashioned three-point play by Williams brought NIU back even at 17. Tied at 24, Hankerson made his fourth triple of the half to give the Huskies a three-point lead. Ball State scored the final three points of the half to pull even at 27 at the intermission. 

Hankerson led all scorers with 12 points, on 4-of-7 from three, in the opening 20 minutes. Sparks had nine points in the first half to pace Ball State. 

NIU will remain on the road as the Huskies travel to Akron on Thursday night, Feb. 17, before returning home on Saturday, Feb. 19 when it hosts Miami as part of a Cram the Convo doubleheader. 

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).