DEKALB, Ill. – Will Lovings-Watts (Jeffersonville, Ind./Putnam Science) netted a new career-high 23 points to lead the way as the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team topped Calumet College, 92-48, on Monday night (Dec. 18) at the NIU Convocation Center. Zarique Nutter (Newark, N.J./Clarendon College) added 18 points, Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Fraschels, Switzerland/Ursping) chipped in 13 points and David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) scored 10 in the victory. 

"It feels good to win," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "We were coming off 23 days without a win. Some of that is finals and scheduling, (also) three tough opponents, so its always good to get a win. I'm happy for our guys. We had a trying three weeks from a mental standpoint, not just playing Northwestern, Indiana State and Monmouth, we had a couple players with trying situations in their personal lives, so to get home, perform well and get a W means a lot more than what shows in the win column for these guys."

Lovings-Watts' 23 points is the most by a NIU freshman since Eugene German scored 23 on Feb. 25, 2017, at Eastern Michigan. 

The Huskies shot 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the field in the first half, including 5-of-9 from three, as they built a 41-point lead, 58-17, at the intermission. 

NIU (6-4) opened the contest on a 15-2 run as the Huskies made five of their first six shots from the floor. Konan Niederhauser had seven in the opening four minutes, including four points from the free-throw line, and the Huskies never looked back. Konan Niederhauser tied a career-high with four blocks in the contest.  

The Huskies held Calumet College to just 15.6 percent (5-of-32) shooting in the opening 20 minutes, including 1-of-9 from three-point range. 

NIU extended its lead to as much as 51 midway through the second half as the Huskies took a 75-24 lead. Xavier Amos (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) and Quaran McPherson (Queens, N.Y./Nebraska) each grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. NIU outscored Calumet 29-6 off turnovers and 54-20 in the paint. 

The Huskies finished the game 34-of-60 from the field (56.7 percent) while holding Calumet College to just 15-of-68 (22.1 percent). 

Dorwynn Smith III had 11 points in just nine minutes to lead the Crimson Wave. Quindarius Davis had eight rebounds to lead Calumet. 

NIU has one final game before the Holiday break as the Huskies host Northern Iowa on Thursday night, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets for Thursday's game are available now, including the "Holidays with the Huskies" mini-plan where fans can receive tickets for the NIU men's basketball games on Dec. 21 and Jan. 2, as well as the NIU women's basketball games on Dec. 30, Jan. 3 and Jan. 6, for just $25.