Stephen Jones is a difference maker.

Even though the Huskies are struggling right now, losing their last five games, the senior guard makes the team better than what it was at the beginning of the season.

But who knows what would be if Jones played the whole season? The 6-foot-3 guard was forced to sit out the first half after being ruled academically ineligible. With Jones on the bench, the Huskies used the point-guard position as a trial-by-committee, and struggled in the 13 games he was forced to miss.

Jones knows all about being made to do things he might not want to do. He was forced to play the point-guard position his junior year, thanks to then-starting point guard Ephraim Eaddy sitting out because of academic ineligibility. Jones had been a natural forward in junior college and never played at the point — and the switch obviously was hard for him, as he gave up as many as 10 turnovers against DePaul.

“I feel more comfortable at the point-guard position,” Jones says now. “Last year I came in at the point and I didn’t know how to play it. Then, in the middle of the year, I was moved back to the wing. I got used to playing the point; then I had to make the adjustment to another position. But I am more comfortable now than how I was last year.”

With Jones, the Huskies are able to do a lot.

Without him, NIU didn’t have a player who combined all the skills of making plays, slashing to the hoop and rebounding into one.

With the senior back in the fold, the Huskies have all of that in him, and in Jones’ second game back, the difference showed. He finished with 7 points, 10 boards and 4 assists. Interim coach Andy Greer said after the game that Jones was a month away from reaching his full potential.

In the next game, Jones nailed Eastern Michigan for 16 points and 14 boards in the Huskies’ win.

Since that game, Jones has been on a tear, erasing any doubt that he is the best player on the Huskies.

“Steve Jones adds a lot to this program,” Greer said after the Eastern Michigan win. “We all have a lot of confidence in him. People talk about how athletes struggle, but he did a great job academically this semester and put him in the position to play. I am proud for him and glad that he can finally play.”

Even the rest of the Mid-American Conference notices how different the Huskies are with Jones back.

Against Central Michigan, Jones had the daunting task of going up against pre-season All-MAC player David Webber, and despite letting Webber score 8 points in the first half, he impressed the Chippewa guard with his defensive skills.

“Offensively he is good, as well,” Webber said. “He has the quickest first step over everyone I have played against in the three years I have played. It’s

unbelievable. He takes one step and he is right past you. Defensively, when I got by him, he started blocking shots behind me. He is very athletic.”

Stephen Jones is a difference maker. Who knows how different the outlook on the season would be? Who knows if the Huskies would have defeated Wisconsin instead of losing 68-64?

What we do know is that Jones’ return could not come at a better time to salvage what seemed destined as a lost season.