DEKALB, Ill. – The University of Louisiana at Lafayette erased a 11-point halftime deficit as the Ragin' Cajuns came from behind to top the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team, 66-64, on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8). The visitors shot 53.3 percent (16-of-30) in the second half compared to just 26.1 percent (6-of-23) by the home side. 

Quaran McPherson (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y./Link Year Prep) had a game-high 19 points while James Dent Jr. (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) and Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) each added 14 points. 

"Very disappointed, in the first half I thought we played the right way for about 17 minutes," said NIU head coach Rahson Burno. "We had 14 turnovers for 22 points and the live ball turnovers were the catalyst for (Louisiana's) comeback in the second half. We didn't come out with the right mindset (in the second half), I don't know why. 

"We explained to them that the first four minutes of the second half were important. (Louisiana) did a good job of attacking us because we weren't ready to play coming out of halftime."

McPherson had seven early points as NIU led at the first media timeout, 12-6. 

Dent knocked in a triple to ignite a 9-3 Huskie burst with McPherson converting a four-point play to end the run as NIU led 21-9 with 13:27 to play in the opening half. The Huskies opened the contest 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-5 from three. 

The Ragin' Cajuns answered with an 11-1 run as they trimmed the NIU advantage back to just a pair, 22-20, with a little over eight minutes to play before the intermission. 

NIU (5-18) led by three when the Huskies used a 9-0 run to go in front by a dozen. Dent began the run with an old-fashioned three-point play before Nasir Muhammad (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) and Jayden Mott (Midwest City, Okla./Edmond Santa Fe) added baskets and McPherson made a pair from the free-throw line as NIU took a 34-22 lead with 4:12 to play in the half. 

The Huskies took a 39-28 lead into the intermission. McPherson led all scorers with 13 points at the break, Kentrell Garnett paced the Ragin' Cajuns with seven points. NIU held the visitors to just 33.3 percent (10-of-30) shooting in the opening 20 minutes, including 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from three. 

The Ragin' Cajuns (8-17) scored the first 11 points to begin the second half to pull even at 39 before the Huskies scored seven of the next nine. Ethan Butler (Toronto, Ontario/Southwest Academy) made a free throw to end the run, Kailon Nicholls (Toronto, Ontario/Hargrave Military Academy) added a three and Butler converted an old-fashioned three-point play as NIU led 46-41 with 14:13 to play. 

An 8-2 burst by the visitors helped give the Ragin' Cajuns a 49-48 lead, their first of the contest, with just over 11 minutes remaining. 

A triple from Jones gave the lead back to the Huskies but the visitors then used a 9-0 run to take a 58-51 lead with 5:52 left, forcing a NIU timeout. 

NIU scored the next four to pull within three, 58-55, and the Ragin' Cajuns still led by three, 60-57, when Garnett knocked in a triple with 90 seconds to play. Dent answered with a three and, following a stop, McPherson made two free throws to bring NIU within one, 63-62, with 41 seconds remaining. 

The visitors answered with a bucket with 23 seconds left to go in front 65-62 and the Huskies then came up empty on the ensuing possession. Following a free throw by the Ragin' Cajuns with nine seconds left to push the lead to four, Jones made two at the line for NIU, trimming the deficit to 66-64. 

The Ragin' Cajuns missed the front end of a one-and-one with 3.6 seconds to play and a halfcourt heave for NIU came up short, giving the visitors the victory. 

Garnett had 12 points to pace the Ragin' Cajuns, he was their only player in double figures but all 10 players who played for the visitors scored. 

NIU will be home again on Tuesday night, Feb. 11, when the Huskies host Buffalo. Tip against the Bulls is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (7225).