NIU men’s basketball coach Ricardo Patton has been winning more than just games recently.

The first-year head coach had another recruit sign a national letter of intent last week. This time Patton inked 6-foot-5-inch guard Dominique Johnson as a future Huskie.

Johnson is averaging 19.6 points-per-game as a sophomore at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

“Dominique is a continuation of our efforts to bring in guys that have a feel for putting the ball in the basket,” Patton said. “He is a big-time athlete that is doing a nice job of taking his junior college team hopefully to the National Tournament.”

Johnson joins three other players who have already signed national letters of intent this year.

Stealing the MAC

Out of 12 teams, NIU ranks fourth in the MAC in steals. In eight games this season the Huskies are averaging 7.75 steals per game.

Kent State leads the MAC with 8.38 steals per game, while Ball State brings up the rear with 4.67 steals per game.

NIU guards Jarvis Nichols and Ryan Paradise are both leading the team with nine steals this season. Freshman guard Jeremy Landers is close behind the leaders with eight steals in seven games so far.

Turnover woes

Despite the numbers of steals, NIU is second to last in turnover margin the MAC.

The Huskies are averaging a -2.12 turnover margin so far this year. Western Michigan is the only team below NIU, as its averaging a -2.25 turnover margin per game.

However, the Huskies are trying to reverse the trend. In its 63-52 win over Air Force, NIU had a plus-four turnover margin.

All O-board

Patton has stressed offensive rebounding to his team this season. And so far this season it hasn’t been in vain.

NIU is averaging 13.50 offensive rebounds per game, a MAC best.

However, the Huskies rank eighth in the conference in defensive rebounds. NIU, on average, is grabbing 21.25 boards on the defensive end, three fewer than conference leader Buffalo.