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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

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 Bertram's MAC men's 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 men's 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, Former 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 6, 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 men's basketball's victory over the Eagles on Saturday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

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

By Ethan Gonzales, Former 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 Tuesday's 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 30, 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, Former 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...

The NIU men's 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, Former 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 forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) is guarded by Indiana State players while going for a layup as sophomore forward Xavier Amos (13) waits for a rebound during the first quarter Tuesday. The Huskies fell to Monmouth at the buzzer on Saturday. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Monmouth downs men’s basketball at buzzer

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | December 9, 2023

DeKALB – A buzzer-beater three from senior guard Jakari Spence lifted Monmouth University (5-4) to a 74-71 victory over NIU men’s basketball (5-4). After holding a 41-29 halftime lead, the Huskies once again collapsed in the second half. NIU was...