DeKALB | Winthrop’s defense was as potent on Saturday night as the winter storm that crippled the DeKalb area on Friday.

WU posted a 72-62 win at the Convocation Center.

For a 12-minute stretch, the WU defense was like traffic brought to a screeching halt during a blizzard.

A twisting alley-oop lay in by senior guard Mike McKinney with 8:58 left in the first half gave NIU a 19-13 lead.

From there, WU went on a 23-0 run that ended almost four minutes into the second half on a lay up from senior center James Hughes.

“That was a big key to the game,” WU coach Gregg Marshall said. “We weren’t great on offense today, but we were good enough with our defense being as stout as it was.”

WU forced NIU into 19 turnovers, attempted 14 more free throws and held a 12-8 advantage on the offensive glass.

Junior forward Zach Pancratz came off the bench for the first time this season and led NIU with a career-high 22 points.

Marshall said senior forward Craig Bradshaw was an intricate defensive component that limited MAC leading scorer, Hughes, to nine points and six rebounds.

“Their defense was good,” NIU coach Rob Judson said. “We knew they would pressure, press and mix it up. We made some uncharacteristic fundamental turnovers.”

In the second half, WU’s lead would swell to 21 points.

WU senior forward Torrell Martin led the Eagles with 22 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Junior forward Taj McCullough came off the bench and shot a perfect 7-for-7 and scored 19 points.