DEKALB, Ill. – Daemar Kelly (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) led the way with a career-high 18 points as the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team downed Benedictine, 117-62, on Thursday night (Nov. 13) at NIU Convocation Center. Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) added a career-best 17 points while Taj Walters (Bronx, N.Y./Moravian Prep) and Hassan 'Tre' Washington (Providence, R.I./Prise Academy) each added a career-high 13 points. 

The 117 points by the Huskies is tied for the sixth-most in school history. NIU also scored 117 last year in a 117-50 win over East-West University (Dec. 30, 2024). 

NIU (2-2) raced out of the gates to a 17-4 lead in the opening six minutes of the contest. Valentine scored the first six to open the game. Benedictine sandwiched a pair of baskets around a bucket from Kelly before a triple from Gianni Cobb (Chicago, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor), two free throws from Walters and baskets by Kelly and Washington put the Huskies in front by 13 early. 

The Huskies led 33-16 with 7:11 to play in the half before an eight-point burst put NIU in front by 25. Jaylen Wharton (Plant City, Fla./Durant) scored to open the run, Kelly then knocked in a triple, Valentine added a free throw and Ladji Kante (Marseille, France) scored to give the Huskies a 41-16 lead. 

Valentine had a game-high seven assists to go along with his 17 points. 

After a basket by the Eagles, NIU used a 12-0 run to take a 53-18. Washington opened the run with a bucket, Gustav Winther (Roskilde, Denmark) had a basket during the run, Valentine scored four points and Washington knocked in a corner triple as the Huskie lead grew to 53-18 with a little under two minutes to play in the opening half. 

Kelly had 14 to lead all scorers at the intermission as the Huskies held a 60-20 lead. Valentine had 11 points and Washington had 10 as the Huskies shot 54.1 percent (20-of-37) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three. 

Benedictine was held to just 20.6 percent (7-of-34) shooting in the opening half, including 11.1 percent (2-of-18) from three. 

After halftime, the Huskie offense continued to fire on all cylinders as NIU shot 65.4 percent (17-of-26) from the field in the second 20 minutes, including 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from three to finish the game shooting 58.7 percent (37-of-63) and 50 percent (14-of-28) from long range. 

Along with the five players in double figures, Cobb, Kante and Isaiah Washington (Fayetteville, N.C./Winston-Salem Christian) each scored nine points, Cobb added a team-high five assists. 

Aidan Werth scored 13 points to lead the way for Benedictine, who shot 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the field in the second half. 

NIU will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 18, when the Huskies travel to Northern Iowa. Tipoff against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.