Men’s basketball scored its second-highest point total of the season in its convincing 88-63 victory over Central Michigan Wednesday at the Convocation Center.

After playing from behind in each of their last four games by double digits or more, the Huskies (11-12, 5-6 MAC) found themselves playing with a comfortable lead for most of the game.

“That’s uncharted waters right there,” said coach Mark Montgomery. “It’s a lot easier, and it’s good that our guys jumped on them and they maintained their focus and we kept expanding on the lead…. But basketball is a game of runs, and no matter if you’re behind or you’re ahead you still have to keep playing, and our guys kept playing.”

Central Michigan (8-15, 1-10 MAC) went on a 6-0 run to take its first and only lead of the game, 23-21, on a 3-point field goal by guard Chris Fowler with 8:37 to play in the first half.

The Huskies responded immediately with a 9-0 run capped by two free throws from guard Daveon Balls to take a 30-21 lead. The Huskies went into halftime with a nine-point lead, 38-29.

The Huskies jumped on the Chippewas at the beginning of the second half with back-to-back layups from wing Darrell Bowie, sparking an 8-1 Huskie run to give them a 46-30 lead.

Central Michigan fought back to cut the lead to seven, 60-53, with 7:31 left, but from there it was all Huskies as they closed the game out on a 28-10 run.

“I give Northern Illinois a ton of credit, not only in being able to improve from last year but being able to come out and handle us tonight,” said Central Michigan coach Keno Davis. “Even though we have a record —     if you look at us by record you might not think we’re that good of a team — but for the last eight, nine games our games have gone down to the wire. We’ve played extremely competitively and tonight we weren’t that.”

The Huskies were able to beat the Chippewas’ press effectively all game long, which resulted in fast break opportunities and easy baskets for the Huskies.

“We set up our press breaker. It’s fun when you can set your press breaker up and get our guys in different positions,” Montgomery said. “And then we attacked, we got the ball into the middle, and we didn’t turn the ball over, and we pushed, and we finished some at the basket, and then [Jordan] Threloff and [Pete] Rakocevic and Bowie had some other finishes.”

The Huskies’ ability to defend and hold the Chippewas to one shot by securing the rebound played dividends, as well.

“I think our defense has been so strong that we’ve been able to get out and run,” said center Jordan Threloff. “I mean, when you look at our rebounds, we outrebounded them by 20, 12 offensive rebounds ,and that’s just guys wanting it.”

The Huskies got contributions from everywhere as four players scored in double figures. Bowie led the way with 19, guard Aaric Armstead scored a career-high 17, Threloff poured in 14 and Balls chipped in 11.