VALPARAISO, Ind. – A 10-0 run in the final four minutes helped Valparaiso claim an 87-82 victory over the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 27) at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The Huskies and Beacons traded leads 10 times and were tied six times before the final Valparaiso run proved to be the difference. 

Nasir Muhammad (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) led the Huskies with a career-best 22 points, Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) added 20 and James Dent Jr. (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) chipped in 15 points. 

Quaran McPherson (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y./Link Year Prep) recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. 

NIU and Valparaiso combined to shoot 74 free throws in the contest, with the hosts going 35-of-44 (79.5 percent) from the line and NIU going 22-of-30 (73.3 percent). 

"We didn't execute in timely possessions," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "Two front ends of one-and-ones, fouled two three-point shooters. Hats off to Valpo, they made plays when they needed to. We have to do better guarding the ball, they got 35 of their 87 points at the foul line, which is a tremendous amount."

A triple from McPherson and a free throw by Oluwasegun Durosinmi (Lagos, Nigeria/Virginia Academy) gave the Huskies an early 7-3 lead before Valparaiso answered with the next six as the Beacons went back in front by a pair just over four minutes into the contest. 

McPherson converted an old-fashioned three-point play and Muhammad knocked in a triple as NIU (2-5) took a four-point lead, 13-9, with 13:40 to play in the first half. 

Valpo (4-2) answered with 11 of the next 13 as the Beacons led 20-15 just past the midway point of the opening stanza. 

The Beacons led by as much as a dozen, 31-19, but Muhammad's second triple of the afternoon ignited a 10-2 Huskie burst that brought NIU within just three. Dent added a free throw before back-to-back triples from Muhammad and Tsvet Sotirov (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) cut the Valpo lead to 35-32 with just over four minutes to play in the opening half. 

Muhammad finished the night 5-of-7 from beyond the arc while Sotirov had seven points and a career-high seven rebounds. 

Valparaiso took a 41-39 lead into halftime. All Wright led all scorers with 15 points while Devon Ellis added 12 for the Beacons. McPherson had 12 points to pace NIU as the Huskies went 7-of-13 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes. Valpo was 11-of-16 (68.8 percent) from the free-throw line in the first half while NIU was just 4-of-7 (53.8 percent).

A bucket from Dent and a pair of free throws by Sotirov put the Huskies in front early in the second half, 44-43.

After Valpo went back in front, NIU used a 6-0 burst to take a 50-45 lead with 13:41 to play. Jones made a pair of free throws, Muhammad knocked in two from the charity stripe and Jones finished at the rim to put the Huskies in front by five. 

A corner triple from Muhammad gave the Huskies a 56-50 lead before Valpo used a 9-0 run to go in front by three with 8:47 left. 

Five-straight from Muhammad and a free throw by McPherson tied the game at 66. After a bucket by the Beacons, Dent gave the Huskies a 69-68 lead with 3:52 remaining. 

Valpo scored the next 10 however as the Beacons took a 78-69 advantage and held on for the victory. 

Cooper Schwieger and Tyler Schmidt each scored 17 points to lead the Beacons, Wright finished with 13 points while Ellis and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro each added a dozen. Valparaiso forced 13 Huskie turnovers, which they converted into 24 points, while the Beacons committed just four turnovers. 

NIU will remain on the road as the Huskies travel to Eastern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 29. Game time against the Panthers is slated for 2 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+.