When a team scores only 48 points, it’s not going to win too many college basketball games, unless it holds its opponent to 30. That’s exactly what NIU’s men’s team did Saturday at Akron.

The Huskies’ victory ties the team record of six straight road wins and pushes their overall mark to 14-2, 5-1 in the Mid-Continent Conference. Akron falls to 10-7, 2-5.

The Huskies’ Brian Molis started NIU off on the right foot with a 3-pointer to open the game and added two more baskets to give NIU a 7-0 lead. Molis ended up with a team-high 13 points. For a while, it looked like Molis would outscore the entire Zips team.

The Huskies raced to a 13-1 lead before Akron finally hit a field goal six minutes into the game. The Zips worked their way back into the contest, whittling NIU’s lead to 13-9. But a Donald Whiteside 3-pointer, sandwiched by two Andrew Wells buckets, helped the Huskies regain control.

Akron pulled to within 25-16 at the half, but the Zips proved in the second half that their first half scoring drought wasn’t a quirk, scoring only 14 points.

A behind-the-back pass from Whiteside to Wells resulted in a slam dunk that gave the Huskies a 41-18 lead midway through the closing half. NIU coach, Jim Molinari, put in his reserves shortly after.

Akron’s Pete Freeman, who came into the contest leading the M-C in scoring and rebounding, was held to six points and four boards.

“It was a good win,” Molinari said. “(But) I’m not happy how we finished.”

Mike Hidden added 12 points for NIU while no Zip player tallied in double figures. Akron shot a dismal 27 percent frm the field and was out-rebounded 35-24.

Akron had not had a lower point total since 1958. NIU had not held an opponent to fewer points since the 1946-47 season when the Huskies defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater 50-26.