DEKALB, Ill. – The Miami RedHawks shot 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the field in the second half to claim an 84-69 victory over the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team on Tuesday night (Jan. 14) at the NIU Convocation Center. Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) scored a game-high 21 points to lead the way for NIU. 

Tsvet Sotirov (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) added a career-high 13 points, including four three-pointers, and James Dent Jr. (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) added 12 points. 

"For the first 20 minutes we were really competitive, and we followed the gameplan," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "They had a top three scorer (in the MAC) in (Kam) Craft, but I don't think he got a shot off until the last 90 seconds, so I thought we did a good job, but then we ran out of gas. We have multiple guys hurt, guys playing 40 minutes, high 30s, so I thought their depth wore us down in the second half." 

NIU (4-12, 0-4 MAC) jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead as, after Miami scored first, Sotirov knocked down a triple before Ethan Butler (Toronto, Ontario/Southwest Academy) and Jones added baskets. 

The Huskie lead was five, 11-6, before Miami scored 10-straight to take a 16-11 lead with 12:36 to play in the opening half. Sotirov ended the RedHawk run with his second triple as the Huskies trimmed the Miami advantage back to a pair. 

After Miami scored the next five to take a seven-point lead, Jones scored NIU's next 10 as the two teams traded baskets and the RedHawks held a 29-24 lead with just under eight minutes to play before the intermission. 

Jones started the contest 5-of-5 from the field, including a pair of triples.

A 7-0 NIU burst courtesy of two free throws from Jones and Dent, along with a Sotirov three, gave NIU a 34-31 lead, but Miami answered with a 10-0 run as the RedHawks went back in front, 41-34, with 3:11 left before halftime. 

The RedHawks took a six-point lead, 48-42, into the intermission. Jones led all scorers with 16 points for NIU as the Huskies shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from three. Brant Byers came off the bench to lead Miami with 14 points as the RedHawks were 14-of-29 (48.3 percent) from the field and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range. 

Jones banked in a triple with the shot clock winding down to pull the Huskies within a pair, 52-50, a little less than four minutes into the second half.

A layup by Jayden Mott (Midwest City, Okla./Edmond Santa Fe) brought NIU to within one, but Miami responded with the next six as the RedHawks held a 62-55 lead with 10:47 left. 

Miami (12-4, 4-0 MAC) used an 11-2 burst to extend its advantage to 75-59 with 4:35 remaining, ending any hopes of a Huskie comeback. 

Byers finished with 17 points to pace the RedHawks. Peter Suder scored 15, Eian Elmer added 13, Antwone Woolfork chipped in 12 and Mekhi Cooper had 11 points. Miami held NIU to just 27.3 percent (9-of-33) shooting in the second half and outrebounded the Huskies in the contest, 39-26. 

NIU will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 18, when the Huskies host Central Michigan. Tipoff against the Chippewas is scheduled for 1 p.m.