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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU men’s basketball kicked off its season Friday with a 80-78 overtime win against Indiana State University in the Convocation Center.Krystal wardStaff writerDeKALB | NIU sophomore guard Laytwan Porter sank two free throws in the final seconds of overtime to seal a 80-78 victory over the Indiana State University Sycamores Friday.The game went into overtime because the Huskies missed key free throws in the final seconds of regulation during their regular season opener in the Convocation Center. “I’m proud of my guys,” said NIU Head Coach Mike Montgomery.  “When you have a lead and then a team makes a big shot to force overtime and makes the first three [in overtime], our guys didn’t drop their heads. They kept playing and found a way to win the game.” NIU controlled most of the first half as the team went on a 7-2 run to take a 16-10 lead over the Sycamores with 10 minutes left to play in the first half. NIU senior center Marin Maric finished the game with a career-best 25 points going 11-14 from the field. Sophomore forward Jaylen Key collected his second career double-double with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.NIU extended its lead to 12 in the first quarter on a pair of free throws by Key, pushing the score to 25-13.A three-pointer by Sycamores’ freshman guard Jordan Barnes cut the Huskies’ lead to 29-20 with five minutes left to play in the first period.  After a missed three-pointer by NIU sophomore guard Marshawn Wilson, Maric grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back for the layup to give the Huskies a 34-24 lead with about two minutes to play in the first half.The Sycamores cut the lead to seven, 36-29, heading into halftime on a three-pointer by senior forward Matt Van Scyoc.The Sycamores went on a 7-0 run to start the second half and cut the lead to 36-35 on a free throw by Scott. It took the Huskies four minutes into the second period to score their first basket. Maric sank a jumper to give the Huskies a three point lead, 38-35, with just under 16 minutes left in regulation.The Sycamores took their first lead since the opening minute with a layup by Scott with 14 minutes left in regulation to give them a 41-40 lead.With 11 minutes remaining, the Sycamores extended their lead to 47-42, their largest of the game, on a free throw by senior guard Everett Clemons.NIU went on a 9-0 run with seven minutes left in regulation to give the Huskies a 51-47 lead. Maric knocked down a three-pointer with about a minute left to extend NIU’s lead to 67-61.Brenton Scott, Indiana State’s junior guard, drained a three-pointer with two seconds left to send the game into overtime. This was the first game back for NIU senior guard Dontel Highsmith after he missed the past two seasons from two ACL injuries. “It was an emotional night for me,” Highsmith said. “That first five minutes were tough for me. I was a little heavy-winded, but going through the game, I kind of got a flow.”NIU takes on Roosevelt University 7 p.m. tonight at the Convocation Center. The Huskies lead the all-time series 2-0 and defeated Roosevelt, 85-52, Dec. 22 in DeKalb.

Basketball escapes in overtime

By Krystal Ward | November 14, 2016

NIU men’s basketball kicked off its season Friday with a 80-78 overtime win against Indiana State University in the Convocation Center.

Krystal wardStaff writerDeKALB | NIU sophomore guard Laytwan Porter sank two free throws in the final seconds of overtime to seal a 80-78 victory over the Indiana State University Sycamores Friday.The game went into overtime because the Huskies missed key free throws in the final seconds of regulation during their regular season opener in the Convocation Center. “I’m proud of my guys,” said NIU Head Coach Mike Montgomery.  “When you have a lead and then a team makes a big shot to force overtime and makes the first three [in overtime], our guys didn’t drop their heads. They kept playing and found a way to win the game.” NIU controlled most of the first half as the team went on a 7-2 run to take a 16-10 lead over the Sycamores with 10 minutes left to play in the first half. NIU senior center Marin Maric finished the game with a career-best 25 points going 11-14 from the field. Sophomore forward Jaylen Key collected his second career double-double with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.NIU extended its lead to 12 in the first quarter on a pair of free throws by Key, pushing the score to 25-13.A three-pointer by Sycamores’ freshman guard Jordan Barnes cut the Huskies’ lead to 29-20 with five minutes left to play in the first period.  After a missed three-pointer by NIU sophomore guard Marshawn Wilson, Maric grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back for the layup to give the Huskies a 34-24 lead with about two minutes to play in the first half.The Sycamores cut the lead to seven, 36-29, heading into halftime on a three-pointer by senior forward Matt Van Scyoc.The Sycamores went on a 7-0 run to start the second half and cut the lead to 36-35 on a free throw by Scott. It took the Huskies four minutes into the second period to score their first basket. Maric sank a jumper to give the Huskies a three point lead, 38-35, with just under 16 minutes left in regulation.The Sycamores took their first lead since the opening minute with a layup by Scott with 14 minutes left in regulation to give them a 41-40 lead.With 11 minutes remaining, the Sycamores extended their lead to 47-42, their largest of the game, on a free throw by senior guard Everett Clemons.NIU went on a 9-0 run with seven minutes left in regulation to give the Huskies a 51-47 lead. Maric knocked down a three-pointer with about a minute left to extend NIU’s lead to 67-61.Brenton Scott, Indiana State’s junior guard, drained a three-pointer with two seconds left to send the game into overtime. This was the first game back for NIU senior guard Dontel Highsmith after he missed the past two seasons from two ACL injuries. “It was an emotional night for me,” Highsmith said. “That first five minutes were tough for me. I was a little heavy-winded, but going through the game, I kind of got a flow.”NIU takes on Roosevelt University 7 p.m. tonight at the Convocation Center. The Huskies lead the all-time series 2-0 and defeated Roosevelt, 85-52, Dec. 22 in DeKalb.

Basketball freshman guard Laytwan Porter

Freshman basketball guard suspended indefinitely

By Northern Star staff | April 7, 2016

Basketball freshman guard Laytwan Porter

Junior guard Aaric Armstead drives around the key in Saturdays game against the University of Akron. The Huskies beat the Zips 80-79.

Basketball breaks streak with late win

By Krystal Ward | February 15, 2016

Men’s basketball (17-8, 6-6 MAC) drew its biggest crowd of the season Saturday, snapping its five-game losing streak in a thrilling 80-79 victory against the University of Akron (20-5, 9-3 MAC) at the Convocation Center.Junior guard Aaric Armstead was...

Head coach Mark Montgomery contests a call in a Dec. 2 game against Chicago State. Montgomery has coached the Huskies to their best start since his 2011 arrival, and the team is one win away from beating last season’s total wins.

Quick start to men’s basketball season is no fluke

By Christopher Loggins | January 18, 2016

Men’s basketball fell to 14-3 following a double-digit loss to Western Michigan over the weekend, but there is plenty to look forward to for fans of the team.Head coach Mark Montgomery said getting the Huskies to postseason play was one of his main...

Men’s basketball opens conference play with double-digit victory

By Krystal Ward | January 7, 2016

Men’s basketball (12-2, 1-0 MAC) defeated Ohio (9-4, 0-1 MAC) 80-69 on Wednesday in its first conference game of the season.Junior guard Aaric Armstead got the Huskies off to a quick start with nine early points, including two three pointers.The game...

Huskies defeat Judson in final non-conference game

By Krystal Ward | January 3, 2016

Men’s basketball (11-2, 0-0 MAC) defeated Judson 91-48 win on Saturday in its final non-conference game of the season.Freshman forward Jaylen Key got the Huskies off to a good start with an early six points. Judson had hit four threes with 11:50 in...

NIU men’s basketball: Huskies add Marshawn Wilson to 2015-16 class

By Northern Star staff | April 16, 2015

Men’s basketball announced the signing of Marshawn Wilson to a National Letter of Intent, the program announced Wednesday.Wilson, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, is rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN and is ranked at three stars by Rivals.Wilson averaged...