Kent State University
Northern Illinois University
Five Score in Double Figures to Power Past NIU
2/13/2021 5:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio- A balanced offense and a stifling defensive effort lifted the Kent State men's basketball team (12-5, 9-4 MAC) to an 80-58 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center.
Malique Jacobs led the way with 13 points, three rebounds, and five assists, while four other Flashes reached double-digits. Justyn Hamilton added 12 points and three boards, while Danny Pippen, Giovanni Santiago ended with 11.
Jeremiah Hernandez had 11 points while shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. 11 Flashes saw action in the game and all 11 of them entered the scoring column.
Despite trailing 6-2 at the beginning of the game, Kent State used a 7-0 run to take a 9-6 lead and controlled the game the rest of the way. The cushion was double figures almost the rest of the way and the Flashes cruised to a 32-20 lead at halftime. NIU did at one point use a 6-0 run that closed within 49-33 with 11:23 left to play, but the Flashes answered with an 11-2 run to go up 27 and extended the lead from there.
The Flashes held NIU to 20 points on 25% shooting in the first half. It was the third time Kent State has held an opponent to fewer than 60 points this season.
Kent State dished out a season-high 20 assists in the game while also scoring 20 points off 14 NIU miscues.
For the game, Kent State shot 42.6 percent from the floor and 42.3 percent from long range, while limiting the Huskies to 32.8 percent shooting from the floor.
Kent State returns to action Tuesday, Feb. 16 as the Flashes travel to Kalamazoo to face Western Michigan. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
