Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Huskie men’s basketball team returns from the court, defeatedly high fiving their teammates at the bench after losing to Kent State. The final score was 83-76. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Men’s basketball drops seventh consecutive game

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | January 17, 2024

DeKALB – A hyper-efficient 60.4% shooting night from the Kent State University Golden Flashes (9-8, 2-3 MAC) was enough to defeat NIU men’s basketball (6-11, 0-5) 83-76 and keep the Huskies winless to start conference play. Despite knocking down...

An illustrated Bill Baker hangs up his headphones during his final radio call at Huskie Stadium. Baker has retired after 44 years of play-by-play radio broadcasting for NIU football and basketball. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Thank you, Bill Baker

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | January 15, 2024

For over 43 years, listeners who tuned in to the Huskie Radio Network heard the unmistakable voice of play-by-play announcer Bill Baker.  One of NIU’s most revered radio personalities, Baker served as the play-by-play voice of NIU football and basketball...

The NIU mens basketball team huddles for a pregame talk about their match against Indiana State Dec. 5. The Huskies were defeated by the University of Iowa 103-74 Friday. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Hawkeyes down men’s basketball in blowout fashion

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | January 1, 2024

The Achilles’ heel of the 2023-2024 NIU men’s basketball squad: the final 20-minutes of a game. Another second half collapse by the Huskies proved to be the deciding factor in a 103-74 trouncing at the hands of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. The...

Sophomore defensive end Roy Williams holds a cooler high after dumping Gatorade on NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock. The Huskies defeated Arkansas State University 21-19 in the Camellia Bowl on Saturday. (Todd Thompson | Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Football finishes 2023 season as Camellia Bowl champions

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | December 24, 2023

An explosive first half from NIU football (7-6, 5-3 MAC) helped the Huskies gut out a 21-19 victory over the Arkansas State University Red Wolves (6-7, 4-4 Sun Belt Conference) in the 2023 Camellia Bowl. A high-powered offensive attack in the first...

NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock leads his players onto the Huskie Stadium field on Sept. 23 against the University of Tulsa. The Huskies will face Arkansas State University on Saturday in the Camellia Bowl. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Football set for bowl battle with Arkansas State

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | December 22, 2023

DeKALB – After taking down Kent State University 37-27 in its final regular season game of 2023, NIU football (6-6, 5-3 MAC) is headed to Montgomery, Alabama to take on Arkansas State University (6-6, 4-4 Sun Belt Conference) in the Camellia Bowl Dec....

Then-NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch looks to make a pass downfield during the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2013. The Huskies have yet to win a bowl game in their last three tries. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Reviewing NIU football’s 3 most recent Bowl games

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter | December 6, 2023

With the postseason destiny and the collegiate careers of 11 seniors hanging in the balance, NIU football (6-6, 5-3 MAC) triumphed in a 37-27 high-stakes clash over the Kent State University Golden Flashes on Nov. 25 to become bowl-eligible.  The...

A graphic shows sophomore forward Xavier Amos as the Huskie of the Week. Amos scored a career-high 26 points on Monday against Northwestern University. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Amos nets Huskie of the Week behind dazzling scoring display

By Northern Star Sports Staff | December 4, 2023

DeKALB – A career-high scoring performance against a Big Ten opponent helped NIU men’s basketball sophomore forward Xavier Amos secure his first career Huskie of the Week honor. Amos scored 26 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in an 89-67 loss...

NIU cheerleaders perform their opening routine at a home NIU football game on Sept. 9. NIU football averaged 9,198 fans per game during the 2022 season, good for last out of all FBS schools. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Why are NIU stadium seats so empty?

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | November 29, 2023

DeKALB – Looking out into the stands at NIU sporting events, there is not the sea of black and red that is expected at college sports games.  Attendance at NIU football games averaged 9,198 people in the 2022 season, which is the second-lowest average...

NIU junior defensive specialist/libero Jada Cerniglia poses with a camera during NIU volleyball’s media day on Aug. 7. Cerniglia has established herself as a media savant at NIU after nearly three years in DeKalb. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Meet Jada Rae, NIU volleyball’s media mogul

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | November 28, 2023

Jada Cerniglia (pronounced chur-kneel-ia) remembers checking her phone on Oct. 13. When she opened Instagram to view @niuvolleyball’s then-recent post featuring her photo gallery of “pregame fit flicks,” her excitement couldn't be contained. “When...

Junior guard Zarique Nutter goes for a layup in mens basketballs game against Illinois Tech on Nov. 13. Nutter posted 15 points in the Huskies 89-67 loss to Northwestern on Monday. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

Men’s basketball trounced at Northwestern

By Ethan Gonzales and Zachary Bertram | November 28, 2023

EVANSTON – After leading its Big Ten opponent by 1 point to end the first half, NIU men’s basketball (5-2) fell apart Monday in the second half and was blown out by Northwestern University (5-1) 89-67. NIU led 42-41 at the half despite zero points...

A graphic shows junior running back Antario Brown as the Northern Star Sports Staffs Huskie of the Week. Brown recorded 159 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in a 24-0 win over Western Michigan University on Tuesday. (Ria Pathak | Northern Star)

Antario Brown runs away with Huskie of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | November 21, 2023

DeKALB – Junior running back Antario Brown’s overpowering ground attack Tuesday against Western Michigan University netted him his second Huskie of the Week honor of the 2023 season. Brown recorded 159 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 attempts...

Redshirt sophomore Blake West fights for ground against his opponent at the Red-Black Dual on Oct. 27. West finished 2-0 on Sunday at the Boilmaker Duals. (Amanda Springer | NIU Athletics)

3 wrestlers finish 2-0 at Boilermaker Duals

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter | November 20, 2023

DeKALB – NIU wrestling split matchups, securing a commanding 32-12 victory against the University of Indianapolis but faced defeat against host Purdue University during the Boilermaker Duals on Saturday.  Following an undefeated performance against...