Brenda Bazan photo

By Larry Peterson
Staff writer
Huskies Win!
After suffering through 10 straight defeats, the Northern Illinois University Huskies men’s basketball team came through with a spectacular come-from-behind victory over the visiting Central Michigan Chippewas, Wednesday, Feb. 24.
Unfortunately, the NIU students and DeKalb fans stayed away in large numbers and missed one of the best games of the season at the university’s Convocation Center in DeKalb. Certainly it was one of the best recoveries of this year, and one of the season’s smallest crowds.
With the score tied at 65 and four seconds remaining in the game, the Huskies Darion “Jake” Anderson drove hard to the basket and made a sensational, acrobatic layup with .01 showing on the clock. Anderson ended up flat on his back and the score read Huskies 67, Chippewas 65.
It was a great comeback, but it didn’t start out well. The teams traded baskets and after seven minutes, the score was tied at 13. That’s when Central Michigan went on a scoring spree, led by their three-point specialists, Jordan Bitzer and Robbie Harman.
Bitzer made four-of-six from beyond the arc and Harman buried four-of-five from three point range, shooting 70 percent, to lead the Chippewas to a 14-point, 44-29 halftime advantage.
Central Michigan increased the lead to 18 points in the first minute of the second half. Northern Illinois applied a physical full-court press and began to chip away at the Chippewa lead.
A pair of free throws by Huskie sophomore reserve Bryan Hall, with six and one-half minutes left, tied the score at 57. Two minutes later Northern Illinois took its first lead of the game at 59-58.
The teams traded baskets until the final four seconds, setting the stage for Anderson’s herocis. He delivered with a crashing drive to the rim, which was the game-winner.
Anderson was the high scorer for the Huskies with 23 points. He was two-for-five on three-pointers and was the only Northern Illinois player to nail a trey. He also had two boards, two assists and five steals.
Xavier Silas contributed 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Sean Kowal, the Huskies 6-11 center, added 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Northern Illinois outrebounded Central Michigan, 34-21.
The Chippewas Bitzer and Harman combined for 30 points in the first half and with their deadly shooting the pair outscored the Huskies 30-29.
With the full-court pressure in the second half they shot 23 percent. Bitzer finished the game with 20 points and Harman tallied 19, the only Central Michigan players to score in double figures.
Following the game the Chippewas head coach Steve Hawkins said, “I think our 70 percent shooting in the first half was a mirage. We usually shoot well, but not that well. We got back to reality in the second half.
“I have to give Patton and Northern Illinois credit the way they endured the 10-game losing streak. They were in most of those games and several of them could have gone the other way. The biggest difference in the second half tonight, Northern was more physical and out-toughed us.”
Northern Illinois head coach stepped to the podium following the game and gave a smile and a sigh of relief.
“That was a much-needed win. If we could have put two halves together like that second half, we would have won a lot more games. We can’t expect Silas to score 30 points every game. We need other players to step up like they did tonight.
“We were lucky to overcome our 23 turnovers. That’s way too many, but our full-court pressure made a difference,” Patton said.
Silas, who played an outstanding floor game, said the second half adjustment turned the game around.
“They got the loose balls and they out-hustled us in the first half and coach let us know about that at halftime,” Silas said.
The Huskies have two more Mid-American Conference games remaining. After having dropped another game 60-66, at Easterm Michigan Saturday, Feb. 27, the Huskies look to finish the regular season at home against last place, 0-13 Toledo, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 4.
The MAC Tournament will take place March 7, 11, 12, and 13 with the finals played at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.