In the story of the 2006-07 NIU men’s basketball season, turnovers are emerging as a main story line.

The Huskies (4-13, 1-4) added to that story line in Sunday’s loss to Toledo (9-8, 5-0), when the Rockets scored 38 points off NIU’s season-high 33 turnovers en route to a 76-60 victory.

“Toledo is a very good pressure defense team,” said NIU head coach Rob Judson. “They forced us into a number of turnovers, which allowed them to score transition baskets.”

Toledo led by as much as 21 points, coasting to victory with the Huskies unable to chip away at the lead.

For the game, NIU shot a season-best 63 percent from the field. That field goal percentage marks their highest since Jan. 24, 2006, when NIU shot 65 percent against the same Toledo squad.

“When we did take care of the basketball, we did find our shots and capitalized,” Judson said.

Despite having only three shot attempts in last Tuesday’s game at Ball State, James Hughes came back strong. The senior center led all scorers with 17 points and registered two rebounds and a blocked shot.

Paradise and junior Zach Pancratz also scored in the double digits, adding 12 and 13 points, respectively. Pancratz also added seven rebounds.

Toledo was led by four double-digit scorers – Florentino Valencia with 15, Jonathan Amos with 13 and Keonta Howell and Kashif Payne, each with 11.

With the win, Toledo’s 5-0 start in conference is the best since the 1979-80 campaign.

Andrew Hansen is a sports reporter for the Northern Star.