The three-point shot will run rampant on the Huskies’ court this season.

Oh boy, will it run rampant.

The NIU men’s basketball team emphasized that point with an exclamation point in its 94-88 win over Marathon Oil Tuesday night.

The Huskies attempted 22 from the three-point stripe, converting on nine for a 41 percent accuracy rate. The nine good shots exceeded last season’s high of eight. Although the game was only an exhibition, the team showed that a trend is well in the making.

Head coach Brian Hammel emphasized last week that the coaching staff will continue to promote shooting. Three-point shooting will be no different.

“I would like to get to the point where if you’re a shooter and you think you can make it and the coaching staff has full confidence in you, then you have the green light to shoot it off the fast break,” said Hammel.

The players have taken what Hammel has instructed and proven that they’re not shy about putting it up from three. Five different players converted on the long-range shot. Brian Molis (3), Mark Layton (2), Marlin Simms (2), Mike Hidden (1), and David Mitchell (1) contributed to the cause

Surprisingly, the Huskies’ had good accuracy despite the absence of Mike Lipnisky who was sidelined with a back injury. Lipnisky is considered to be one of the Huskies’ top outside shooters.

Molis, whose 3 three-pointers led the Huskies in the first half, seemed to cool off somewhat in the second.

“I tried to force myself too much because of my first half,” said Molis, referring to his 15 first half points. But I know what I did wrong and everything will come together with time.”