EVANSTON, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team led by one at the half, but Northwestern shot 70.8 percent (17-of-24) from the field in the second half, including 50 percent (5-of-10) from three, as the Wildcats upended the Huskies, 89-67, on Monday night (Nov. 27) at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Xavier Amos (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) led the way for NIU, scoring a career-high 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Zarique Nutter (Newark, N.J./Clarendon College) added 15 points and a career-best six assists while David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) scored 12 points. 

"It was a tale of two halves," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "We didn't play well in the second half, didn't get any stops. (Northwestern) shot 60 (percent from the field), 47 (percent from three) and 75 (percent from the free-throw line). I thought we had the right intentions; we just didn't have the energy and the pop coming off a quick turnaround, a one-day prep against a Power 5. I expected us to play better and we didn't, we'll watch the film and see what we can do better."

Despite the setback, NIU's 5-2 record remains its best seven-game start since the 2015-16 season. With the victory, Northwestern improves to 5-1. 

After a baseline floater from Philmon Gebrewhit (Boston, Mass./DePaul) brought the Huskies within three in the early going, Northwestern responded with the next four to take an 11-4 lead a little over six minutes into the contest. 

The Wildcat lead was five before a six-point spurt, including a four-point play, gave Northwestern a 22-11 advantage. Coit answered with a triple and Nutter added a bucket as the Huskies trimmed the lead back to just a half-dozen, 22-16, with 10:44 left in the opening half. 

Trailing by eight, NIU used a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the night. Amos scored seven during the burst, with Nutter adding the other pair, as NIU went in front, 27-26, with 5:37 to play before the intermission.  

The lead swung back-and-forth the rest of the half with Amos canning his third trifecta of the half to even the contest at 40. After a free throw by Northwestern put the Wildcats back up by one, Nutter closed the half with a bucket to give NIU a 42-41 lead at the break. 

Amos led all scorers with 19 points in the first half, going 8-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-3 from long range. Coit added 10 points while Nick Martinelli and Matthew Nicholson each had nine to pace Northwestern. 

NIU led by three early in the second half before a 14-2 run by Northwestern gave the Wildcats a 57-48 lead just under four minutes into the half. Northwestern made four triples in the early stages of the second 20 minutes. 

With the home side still in front by nine, Northwestern used an eight-point burst to push it lead to 69-52 just before the midway point of the second half. 

Boo Buie led Northwestern with 23 points, including 16 in the second half. Nicholson finished with 15, Ty Berry added 14 points, Martinelli scored 11 and Brooks Barnhizer chipped in 10 points for the Wildcats. 

The Huskies will return home next Tuesday night, Dec. 5, when they host Indiana State at 7 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center. Tickets for the 2023-24 basketball season are on sale now, including season tickets for as low as $80 for general admission seating, $120 for reserved seating. Huskie basketball Mini-Plans are also available, including the "Holidays with the Huskies" plan at the All MACtion plan.