DEKALB, Ill. – Six players scored in double figures for Lindenwood as the Lions topped the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team, 99-64, on Tuesday night (Dec. 2) at the NIU Convocation Center. 

Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) led the Huskies with 17 points, Gustav Winther (Roskilde, Denmark) added 15 and Daemar Kelly (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) chipped in 13 points. 

"Start to finish, we didn't execute the game plan," said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. "Transition defense, rebounding and keeping these guys out of the paint, making them make tough twos. I think they started (making) five of their first eight (shots) and we had five turnovers at the first TV timeout. From there we were on our heels the entire night, they outworked us, they were more physical (than us)."

Lindenwood (4-4) jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the opening four minutes of the contest as the Lions used an 8-0 run to help take the early six-point advantage. 

Following a basket by Winther, Lindenwood went on a 9-0 spurt to push its lead to 19-6 with 13:35 left in the opening half. 

The Lions used a 12-0 run to extend their advantage to 37-14 with 6:45 to play before the break. Lindenwood held NIU scoreless for over four minutes during the burst. Lindenwood's lead grew to 46-21 before a Kelly triple ignited a 9-2 NIU burst as Valentine knocked in a triple and Kelly added a second from beyond the long line. 

Lindenwood took a 52-32 lead into halftime. Clayton Jackson had 13 points to lead the way for the Lions in the opening 20 minutes while Kelly had 10 to pace NIU. Lindenwood outrebounded NIU, 26-15, in the first half and used a 15-2 advantage in second chance points to build a 20-point halftime advantage. 

NIU (3-5) and Lindenwood traded baskets early in the second half until a 13-2 burst gave the Lions a 73-42 lead with 11:44 remaining. 

Jackson finished with a game-high 21 points to pace the visitors. Dontrez Williams added 20 points, Anias Futrell scored 15, Milos Nenadic chipped in 13 while Robert Lewis (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Jadis Jones (10 points, 12 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles.

Lindenwood outscored NIU off turnovers 25-5 in the contest and also held a 54-26 advantage in points in the paint. The Lions, who shot 55.6 percent (20-of-36) from the field in the second half, finished the game with a 33-4 advantage in second chance points. 

NIU will head on the road for its next two contests, beginning with a trip to Peoria on Saturday, Dec. 6, as the Huskies take on Bradley. Game time against the Braves is slated for 7 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+.