Despite playing with a strained ligament in his left thumb, Paige Paulsen led the NIU men’s basketball team with 19 points in its 84-69 victory over DePaul Saturday at the Allstate Arena.

“Coach [Rob Judson] just told me to get out there and do what you can,” said the 6-foot-7 sophomore. “I hit a few shots right away and that helps your confidence.”

Paulsen hurt his thumb in practice Thursday and is day-to-day, Judson said.

“Paige is a tough kid,” Judson said. “And with the way he shot the ball Saturday, I think we’ll tape everybody’s thumb like that.”

Peterson honored

Todd Peterson’s play Saturday was rewarded with the inaugural Jay Goedert Trophy. Peterson made 4-of-5 three-point attempts to extend the Huskies’ lead over the Blue Demons in the second half.

“I thought it was great that Todd brought the whole team out there to accept that award,” Judson said. “We’ll put the plaque up in our locker room as a team award.”

The award, given to the MVP of the DePaul-NIU contest, was named after Goedert, who served as an assistant coach at NIU from 1985-1987 and DePaul from 1987-1997. The 44-year old Goedert died of a heart attack in July.

All in the family

Guard Zach Pancratz’s father, Andy Pancratz, cheered against his former team Saturday.

“It didn’t even cross his mind to cheer for DePaul,” Zach said of his father. “When I went home for Thanksgiving, everyone was like, ‘Oh you’re playing DePaul,’ but my dad was just like, ‘Go beat them.’”

The elder Pancratz played for the Blue Demons from 1972-1976. He got to rub in the Huskies’ win to his former coach at DePaul, Ray Meyer, who was present at the game.