After a 24-10 run to start the game, the NIU men’s basketball team looked to have taken control of the MAC East’s top team, Kent State.

The Golden Flashes responded, however, holding NIU scoreless for more than seven minutes in an 18-0 run. Both teams continued to battle, with Kent State edging out the Huskies in the final seconds on its way to a 69-67 win.

“It’s as hard of a loss as I’ve been around,” NIU coach Rob Judson said. “For our team to struggle through adversities and still fight with the best team in the east – it’s real hard.”

Late in the second half, the Huskies came within grasp of a win with a 7-0 run. Down 69-67 with with 14.6 remaining, Judson opted not to go with the expected go-to man, Perry Smith.

“Perry had a hot hand for us, but we tried to setup a back door play [for James Hughes],” Judson said. “We had a good look at the buzzer, but there was a lot of contact.”

The 6-foot-11 Hughes went up for a six-foot jumper which fell short and was rebounded by Kent State.

“It really tears my gut for my players because of where we are right now,” Judson said.

NIU gained most of its points on three-point shooting in the first half, with nine of the 11 field goals coming from behind the arc.

Todd Peterson scored all 15 of his points on three-pointers. The 6-foot-6 forward scored nine consecutive Huskies points that ended a Kent State run, to put the Huskies up 33-32 at the break.

“We tried to change the defenses, but they’re a good shooting team,” Kent State coach Jim Christian said. “When Peterson gets hot, he can just shoot over us with his height.”

Kent State tried to get the Huskies out of their shooting rhythm after NIU took an early lead, Christian said.

“We’re a team that takes what the defense gives us,” Smith said. “If our three-point shooters are scoring, we go to them.”

Smith led the Huskies in scoring with 21 points. Marcus Smallwood, who did not play for the first 14 minutes of the game, also tied Smith for a team-high six rebounds.