DeKALB | After the first five minutes of NIU’s exhibition game against St. Francis, Huskie turnovers equalled their points with four each.

Not exactly the start the Huskies were looking for.

Once the rust wore off though, NIU shined both offensively and defensively as they defended their home court, beating the Fighting Saints 77-47.

“The beginning could have been better,” coach Rob Judson said. “After that I thought we did some things well. Our defense was there and we had a good night shooting.”

The Huskies finished the game 25 for 45 from the field including 9 for 11 from three-point range.

Ryan Paradise led the Huskies deep threat going 3 of 4 and finishing with 11 points. Zach Pancratz and Mike McKinney each went 2 for 2. Pancratz finished with 14 while McKinney finished with a game-high 18. Pancratz helped up the team field goal percentage by hitting all six of his shots, including two from long range.

“We have a lot of guys that can create things,” Pancratz said. “You’re going to get a lot of open shots when they penetrate like that. It’s just a matter of hitting them and we did that tonight.”

Ball movement was a big part of NIU’s offense, as they finished with 17 assists on their 25 field goals.

Defensively, they held St. Francis to 33.3 percent shooting from the field. They also out-rebounded them 38-23.

Shaun Logan, newcomer to the Huskies, hit the glass hard with a team best seven rebounds including three offensive ones.

“The new guys did good tonight,” McKinney said. “They’re really coming along and improving every day.”