DEKALB, Ill. – Six Huskies scored in double figures as the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team overwhelmed Western Michigan, 81-53, on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 11) at the NIU Convocation Center. Zarique Nutter (Newark, N.J.) scored a game-high 18 points while Anthony Crump (Inkster, Mich.) had 11 points and a career-best 14 rebounds for his second career double-double. Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill.) also had a double-double with 10 points and a career-high tying 11 assist. 

Harvin Ibarguen (Cali, Colombia) just missed a double-double with career-high tying 13 points and a career-best nine rebounds while Darweshi Hunter (Phoenix, Ariz.) added 11 points. This was the first time NIU has had six double-figure scorers in a game since Dec. 14, 2016, against Olivet Nazarene. 

"Great bounce-back for the program," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "Coming off the Ohio game, we were highly disappointed about not finishing plays, that game didn't sit well with myself or our team. We wanted to come out and play the right way, when you are at home you have to perform well, you have to play well, you want to give your fans a reason to come back and we were tired of losing at home, especially in conference play. 

"I still think we have ways to improve but I think this team is gelling at the right time, it looks like it's a connected unit. We have to stay focused, stay locked in, celebrate the victory, but tomorrow we have to start over."

With the victory, NIU improves to 7-5 in Mid-American Conference play, 11-14 overall, and is currently in fifth place with three weeks left in the regular season. 

Western Michigan jumped out to a quick start, taking a 12-4 lead in the opening five minutes of the contest. 

Coit scored to ignite an 8-3 NIU burst as the Huskies pulled within three. Thornton added a layup, Hunter made a triple from the wing and Nutter made a free throw as the Huskies cut the Western Michigan lead to 15-12 with 11:51 to play before the break.  

Trailing by three, a basket by Hunter started a 10-2 NIU run. Crump converted an alley-oop from Hunter before Coit and Thornton both made triples as NIU took a 22-19 lead with eight-and-a-half minutes to play in the opening half. 

Western Michigan tied the game at 22, but Coit answered with a trifecta before Nutter and Thornton each finished at the rim, giving the Huskies a seven-point lead with five minutes left before the half. 

The NIU lead grew to 11 on Coit's third triple of the half, but Western Michigan scored the final three points of the half to cut the Huskie lead to 35-27 at the intermission. 

Coit led all scorers with 11 points in the opening 20 minutes, JaVaughn Hannah and Lamar Norman Jr. each had six to lead the Broncos. NIU shot 56 percent (14-of-25) from the field in the first half, including 50 percent (5-of-10) from three. 

A pair of dunks from Ibarguen, a coast-to-coast finish from Crump and a short jumper by Coit gave the Huskies a 43-29 advantage early in the second half. 

With NIU in front by 13, the Huskies went on a 7-0 burst to push the lead to 60-40. A pair of finishes at the rim from Nutter and a driving layup from Crump, followed by a free throw by Nutter put the Huskies in front by 20 with less than nine minutes left. 

Crump and Thornton's double-doubles marked the first time NIU had two players with double-doubles in the same game since Nov. 18, 2019, against Longwood. 

NIU shot 52.5 percent (32-of-61) from the field in the contest, including 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from three-point range. Western Michigan shot just 33.3 percent (18-of-54) and 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from three. 

Norman Jr. led the Broncos with 12 points, Seth Hubbard added 11 off the bench for the visitors. 

NIU will head back on the road on Tuesday night, Feb. 14, when the Huskies travel to Ball State before returning to the NIU Convocation Center on Saturday, Feb. 18, against Miami as part of the annual "Cram the Convo" doubleheader. Tickets for "Cram the Convo" and all remaining home games are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (7225).