The biggest loss for the NIU men’s basketball team Sunday took place before the game even started.

The absence of leading scorer James Hughes and a 7-0 deficit to start the game paved the way for Kent State to post a 67-55 victory.

NIU (13-9 overall, 8-6 MAC) was out-rebounded 37-28, shot 29 percent from the three-point range and had 15 turnovers in the game as KSU swept the season series 2-0.

“We knew we’d have to make up for not having James Hughes by shooting the ball better,” said NIU coach Rob Judson. “We were only 3-of-11 from three-point range. If we would have been able to make those without the presence inside, that would have really helped us.”

Hughes was held out as a precautionary measure due to concussive symptoms lingering from the Western Michigan game Feb. 4.

Kent State (17-7, 11-2) was led in scoring by DeAndre Haynes with 23 points. A 35 percent 3-point shooter on the season, the senior guard drilled seven-of-eight three pointers.

“Haynes put the team on his back and carried the team today,” the fifth year coach said.

The NIU defense harassed Kent State leading scorer Jay Youngblood into shooting 1-of-12 from the field.

The senior guard tallied 27 points in a 72-61 Kent State victory at the Convocation Center Jan. 21.

The Huskies answered Judson’s call to limit Youngblood’s touches and rebounds.

But they failed to stop Mike Scott and Armon Gates, who picked up the scoring slack and joined Haynes in double figures, with 13 and 11 points respectively.

For the second straight game, a slow start forced NIU to play catch-up the entire game. Kent State held a 15-5 lead until Zach Pancratz scored five straight points to trigger a 12-2 NIU run. The 19-17 deficit is the closet NIU would get the rest of the game.

Cory Sims led NIU in scoring with 14 points, and Pancratz came off the bench to chip in 13 points. Leading scorer Todd Peterson was held to 4 points on 1-of-5 shooting.

NIU has lost back-to-back MAC games, both on the road and will have to wait until Saturday to take the court again.

“At this time of year, with these two tough road games,” Judson said, “it’s nice to have time to recover physically, and then get ready for the Winthrop game.”