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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Redshirt sophomore guard Zion Russell passes the ball in an NIU mens basketball home game against the University at Buffalo on Tuesday. Russell recorded 2 points in 27 minutes played in a 85-47 loss to Kent State University Saturday. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

Men’s basketball pummeled at Kent State

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

NIU men’s basketball (9-16, 3-9 MAC) suffered its worst loss of the season, an 85-47 annihilation at the hands of the Kent State University Golden Flashes (13-12, 6-6 MAC) Saturday. NIU’s three-game conference win streak came to a screeching halt...

Junior guard Zarique Nutter (2) shoots a jump hook as Buffalo senior forward Isaiah Adams (3) attempts to block the shot. Nutter led the team in rebounds, accounting for 12 of the team’s total 39. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

Huskies survive Bulls for third straight conference victory

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | February 14, 2024

DeKALB – Without the services of leading scorer junior guard David Coit, a short-handed NIU men’s basketball team (9-15, 3-8 MAC) snuck past the University at Buffalo Bulls (3-21, 1-10 MAC) 72-68 Tuesday. Despite missing four rotational players...

Junior guard David Coit drives past a University of Toledo defender on Jan. 23. Coit was selected as the starting guard for Senior Sports Reporter Zach Bertrams MAC mens basketball All-Star team. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Creating the 2023-2024 MAC men’s basketball All-Star squad

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | February 12, 2024

With MAC men’s basketball conference play a little more than halfway through and the NBA All-Star Game on the horizon, I decided to make my own MAC men’s basketball All-Star team. These players have not only been the best on their respective teams,...

Sophomore forward Xavier Amos passes the ball during an NIU mens basketball home game against Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 3. Amos led the Huskies in scoring with 19 points Saturday against the University of South Alabama. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Coit-less Huskies fall to South Alabama in MAC-SBC Challenge

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | February 10, 2024

NIU men’s basketball was defeated 75-66 by the University of South Alabama in the Huskies’ second and final matchup of the MAC-SBC Challenge. A 23-point performance from Chicago native and senior guard Tyrell Jones propelled the Jaguars to their...

NIU junior guard Zarique Nutter (2) shoots a free throw after a personal foul from Toledo’s redshirt freshman forward Javan Simmons on Jan. 23. Nutter finished with 22 points in a win over Miami University Tuesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Huskies slip past RedHawks, win second straight

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | February 7, 2024

DeKALB – Clutch shot-making and a dominant defensive effort helped NIU men’s basketball (8-14, 2-8 MAC) hold on for a nail-biting 62-59 victory over the Miami University RedHawks (11-12, 5-6 MAC) Tuesday. The Huskies racked up 8 steals and 3 blocks,...

A graphic shows sophomore forward Xavier Amos. Amos has led the Huskies in scoring in their past two games, scoring 25 points against Central Michigan University and 19 points against Eastern Michigan University. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Amos scores second Huskie of the Week honor

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 5, 2024

DeKALB – A 19-point, 6-rebound performance from sophomore forward Xavier Amos propelled NIU men’s basketball to its first conference win and Amos’ second Huskie of the Week honor. The 6-foot-8-inch forward led the Huskies in scoring in their...

Freshman guard Will Lovings-Watts (1) gets in stance to guard Eastern Michigan University sophomore guard Orlando Lovejoy (55). Lovings-Watts scored 18 points and swiped 5 steals in NIU mens basketballs victory over the Eagles on Saturday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Amos, Lovings-Watts lead men’s basketball to first conference win

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | February 3, 2024

DeKALB – The streak is finally over! After 47 days of winless conference play and 10 straight losses, NIU men’s basketball (7-14, 1-8 MAC) has found the win column after a 76-66 victory over Eastern Michigan University (9-13, 2-8 MAC) on Saturday. The...

Redshirt sophomore guard Zion Russell (10) yells to teammates to coordinate a pass as Toledo junior guard Dante Maddox Jr. (21) guards him. Russell finished Tuesdays game against Central Michigan University with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Men’s basketball loses double-overtime heartbreaker to Central Michigan

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | January 31, 2024

DeKALB – A career-high 23 points from junior guard Zarique Nutter was not enough for NIU men’s basketball (6-14, 0-8 MAC) to pull out its first conference victory of the season, as the Huskies fell 84-77 to the Central Michigan University Chippewas...

NIU junior guard David Coit works his way past Ball State University freshman forward Mason Jones on Saturday. The Huskies fell 81-71 to the Cardinals in Muncie, Indiana on Saturday. (Nick Wilson | Courtesy of Ball State Athletics)

Ball State halts Huskies’ late rally for matinee victory

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | January 28, 2024

DeKALB – A dominant performance from Ball State junior forward Basheer Jihad lifted the Ball State University Cardinals (11-9, 3-5 MAC) to an 81-71 victory over NIU men’s basketball (6-13, 0-7 MAC). The Huskies had their hands full trying to stop...

After a defensive rebound early in the game, senior forward Harvin Ibarguen (23) navigates around University of Toledo redshirt freshman forward Javan Simmons (1). The Huskies have fallen to 6-12 after starting the season 5-1. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

COLUMN: How NIU men’s basketball’s hot start has flamed out

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | January 24, 2024

DeKALB – A successful season seemed to be on the horizon when NIU men’s basketball (6-12, 0-6 MAC) jumped out to its best start through six games since 2015 with a 5-1 record.  After a road win over the DePaul University Blue Demons on Nov. 25...

Junior guard David Coit (11) hooks past Toledo redshirt freshman forward Javan Simmons (1) with possession of the ball. Coit led the team in scoring, with 23 of the team’s total 73 points attributed to him. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Depleted Huskies burned by Toledo’s hot second half

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | January 24, 2024

DeKALB – The “second-half Huskies” strike again! Despite a night of putback dunks and streaky shooting from the Huskies, NIU men’s basketball (6-12, 0-6 MAC) was outscored in the second half for the 11th time this season in an 89-73 loss to...

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...