NIU Head Coach Rashon Burno
DEKALB, Ill. – Kent State made 15 triples as the Golden Flashes topped the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team, 102-76, on Tuesday night at the NIU Convocation Center. Gianni Cobb and Gustav Winther each scored 17 points to lead the way for the Huskies.
“The last two games, we just got beat up,” said NIU head coach Rashon Burno. “From a physicality standpoint at the four and five, we just fouled way too much, (Kent State) shot 35 free throws. This was a game where, if you didn’t hunker down and anchor, you could get beat up and that’s what happened. After the 12-minute mark, they just beat us up, physically, and we didn’t make shots.”
A triple from Taj Walters gave the Huskies an early 7-4 lead less than four minutes into the contest. Kent State scored the next four to go back in front by one and the two teams traded scores until a 7-0 run gave NIU a 21-16 lead just before the midway point of the half.
Makhai Valentin opened the burst with a pair of free throws, Cobb added a basket and Walters knocked in a triple as the Huskies led by five. Kent State answered with a trio of triples, going back in front, 25-21, with just over eight minutes left in the opening stanza.
Valentine finished with 10 points.
The string of triples ignited a 27-2 run by the Golden Flashes as Kent State led 43-23 with 3:10 to play in the half. The visitors made seven three-point field goals during the run.
Kent State took a 51-28 lead into the intermission. The Golden Flashes shot 51.5 percent (17-of-33) in the opening 20 minutes, including 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) from three. Cian Medley, Rob Whaley Jr. and Quinn Woidke all had 11 first half points for Kent State while Walters and Winther paced NIU with eight each in the first half.
NIU scored seven of the first eight out of the intermission, but Kent State responded with the next 10 as the Golden Flashes led 62-35 a little less than four minutes into the second half.
Five players finished in double figures for Kent State, led by 18 from Jahari Williamson and Delrecco Gillespie. Medley added 16 points while Woidke chipped in 13 points and Whaley finished with 11.
NIU will close the season on Friday, March 6, when the Huskies travel to Akron. Game time against the Zips is scheduled for 5 p.m..