DEKALB, Ill. – Eight players scored in double figures, led by 18 points from Jao Ituka (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg), as the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team topped East-West University, 112-64, in the final non-conference game of the calendar year on Tuesday night (Dec. 16) at the NIU Convocation Center. 

Gustav Winther (Roskilde, Denmark) had 16 points, Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) scored 14 points, Ladji Kante (Marseille, France) added 12 points, Dylan Ducommun (Geneva, Switzerland) chipped in 11 points while Gianni Cobb (Chicago, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor), Daemar Kelly (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) and Taj Walters (Bronx, N.Y./Moravian Prep) each had 10 points. 

Cobb finished with a double-double with 10 assists to go along with his 10 points. Kelly, Kante and Winther each tied for the game-high with eight rebounds. NIU outrebounded East-West, 71-22, in the contest. 

"The ball went in the basket tonight," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "Eight guys scored in double digits; 39 offensive rebounds was a bright spot. The most important thing is we got out of tonight clean, with no injuries. We have to be more diligent with the ball, 17 turnovers is a bit much, but I like that some of the younger guys, Ladji (Kante), (Isaiah) Stewart, were able to get extended minutes."

A 12-0 run gave NIU an 18-7 lead with 14:42 to play in the opening half. Winther opened the run with a layup, Kelly then added a triple before Ducommun finished at the rim. Ituka knocked in a three to make it a 10-0 Huskie burst and Cobb finished ahead of the play to close the run and give NIU an 11-point lead. 

East-West scored the next four to trim the NIU advantage back to seven with a little under 14 minutes left in the half 

With NIU in front 31-18, Winther scored six-straight to push the Huskie lead to 19 with 7:34 remaining in the opening stanza. The six-point burst from Winther ignited an 18-0 run from the Huskies as NIU led 49-18 with just over three minutes to play before the break. 

NIU (4-7) took a 59-25 lead into the intermission. Winther had 16 points to lead all scorers at the half, David Hood had nine points to pace the Phantoms. 

Walters scored all 10 of his points in the second half to led NIU after the break while Ituka scored nine points after halftime. 

Devine Conley finished with 19 points for East-West, Hood added 14 points and Amari Phillips chipped in 12. 

NIU will now turn its attention to conference play, which begins at home this Saturday, Dec. 20, against Central Michigan. Tip-off against the Chippewas is scheduled for 2 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.