Another conventionally, poor start for NIU men’s basketball’s led to its demise at Kent State as it fell 90-56.

This is the second game this season in which the Huskies (2-16, 1-5 MAC) allowed a team to score 90 points.

Kent State (13-6, 3-3 MAC) dominated the game from start to finish on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, the Golden Flashes came out of the gates hot, starting with a 12-0 run in the first four minutes of the game.

Kent State would later increase its lead with a 26-7 run, with 9:44 left in the first half.

NIU got its first basket at the 15:53 mark when junior Tony Nixon hit a three.

Defensively, Kent State came out aggressive and forced the Huskies to make a lot of mistakes, as they had 14 turnovers in the first half.

NIU would finish the game with 22 turnovers, as Kent State capitalized with 31 points off turnovers.

“It was more us making mistakes,” said NIU forward Keith Gray. “Coach Montgomery said they were trying to rush us, and we tried to make them not do that, but we made the turnovers on our own.”

The Golden Flashes would continue to increase their lead and ended the first half up, 49-24.

The second half was no different than the first, as Kent State continued to increase its lead. The Golden Flashes would increase their lead to as much as 43 points with 8:45 remaining in the game.

Kent State’s lead was able to increase due to the seven three pointers they hit in the second half. The Golden Flashes hit a total of 11 three’s in the game.

“When we turned the ball over, they ran the floor in transition,” Keith said. “They got a lot of good looks and shot a lot of threes and they went in.”

Kent State had five players that scored in double figures in the game. Gray and Kent State’s Kris Brewer both scored a game-high 15 points.

The Golden Flashes got offensive production from Randal Holt, Chris Evans and Justin Greene all had 14 points, while Carlton Guyton had 11.

The Huskies shot 35 percent from the field, and their leading scorer, Abdel Nader, shot 0-10 from the field without recording a point.

“Well, coach always says to shoot the ball, but tonight the ball just wasn’t going in.” Gray said. “We just have to get better and get in the gym.”

This is the third-straight MAC loss for the Huskies, after falling to Toledo and Ball State, respectively.

“We have to get ready for these next couple of games.” Gray Said. “We need to play hard and get some wins at home.”