2016-17 NIU Men’s Basketball · Dec. 14, 2016 vs. Olivet Nazarene 2016-17 NIU Men’s Basketball 2016-17 NIU Men’s Basketball 2016-17 SCHEDULE Day Date Opponent Time/Result

Dec. 14, 2016 vs. Olivet Nazarene 2016-17 NIU Men’s Basketball

2016-17 NIU Men’s Basketball2016-17 SCHEDULE

Day Date Opponent Time/Result

Fri. Nov. 11 Indiana State (ESPN3) W, 80-78 (ot)

Mon. Nov. 14 Roosevelt (^) W, 99-55

Wed. Nov. 16 Idaho (ESPN3) W, 63-49

Sat. Nov. 19 at Cal State Northridge (BigWest.tv) L, 84-82Wed. Nov. 23 Cal Poly (^) (ESPN3) L, 68-64

Fri. Nov. 25 Elon (^) L, 85-80 (2ot)

Sat. Nov. 26 UIC (^) (ESPN3) W, 92-81

Wed. Nov. 30 at Indiana State (ESPN3) L, 63-52Sun. Dec. 11 at Minnesota (BTN) L, 77-57Wed. Dec. 14 Olivet Nazarene 7 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 17 at Florida International (CUSA.tv) 6 p.m.Tues. Dec. 20 at South Florida (ESPN3) 6 p.m.Sat. Dec. 31 Illinois-Springfi eld 3:30 p.m.

Tues. Jan. 3 at Miami (Ohio)* 6 p.m.Sat. Jan. 7 Central Michigan* (ESPN3) 3:30 p.m.

Tues. Jan. 10 at Kent State* 6 p.m.Sat. Jan. 14 at Bowling Green* (ESPN3) 11 a.m.Tues. Jan. 17 Miami (Ohio)* (ESPN3) 7 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 21 Ohio* (ESPN3) 3:30 p.m.

Tues. Jan. 24 Kent State* (ESPN3) 7 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 28 at Toledo* (ESPN3) 6 p.m.Tues. Jan. 31 Akron* (ESPN3) 7 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 4 Eastern Michigan* (ESPN3) 3:30 p.m.

Tues. Feb. 7 at Buff alo* 6 p.m.Sat. Feb. 11 at Western Michigan* (ESPN3) 6 p.m.Tues. Feb. 14 Ball State* (ASN/CSN Chicago+) 8 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 18 Toledo* (ESPN3) 3:30 p.m.

Tues. Feb. 21 at Central Michigan* (ESPN3) 6 p.m.Sat. Feb. 25 at Eastern Michigan* (ESPN3) 11 a.m.Tues. Feb. 28 Western Michigan* (ESPN3) 7 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 3 at Ball State (ESPN3) 6 p.m.

Mid-American Conference Tournament

Mon. Mar. 6 First Round campus sitesThurs. Mar. 9 Quarterfi nals (ESPN3) Cleveland, OhioFri. Mar. 10 Semifi nals (CBSSN) Cleveland, OhioSat. Mar. 11 Final (ESPN2) Cleveland, Ohio

Home games in bold, all times central

* - denotes Mid-American Conference game^ - denotes NIU Thanksgiving Classic game

NIU PROBABLE STARTERS

HUSKIE QUICK HITS

• NIU returns home for the fi rst time since Nov. 26 as it plays its lone home game for a 35-day stretch between Nov. 26 and Dec. 31. • Aaric Armstead has scored 1,008 points in his four seasons as a Huskie and is currently tied with Terry Kulp (1960-64) for 29th on NIU’s all-time scoring list.• Marin Maric currently ranks ninth in NIU history in career blocks with 58; Maric had a season high three blocked shots last time out at Minnesota (Dec. 11)• NIU ranks second in the MAC in turnover forced per game, as Huskie opponents are com-mitting 16.1 turnovers per contest. • Freshman Justin Thomas made his fi rst career start at Minnesota (Dec. 11). Thomas played a season-high 28 minutes, scoring seven points with six rebounds. Thomas is the fi rst member of NIU’s freshmen class to earn a start this season. • Dontel Highsmith is shooting 60 percent from the fi eld over the last three games; High-smith recorded his second game in double fi gures this season with 10 points at Minnesota. • The team that has had the higher fi eld goal percentage has won all nine games NIU has played this season. • Laytwan Porter currently leads the Mid-American Conference in three-point shooting percentage at 57.1 percent (16-of-28). • Austin Pauga has played 118 minutes of action this season without committing a turnover. • NIU is 37-8 at home since Feb. 12, 2014, the Huskies are 4-2 at home this season after posting an 18-1 home mark in 2015-16. • This will be the fi rst all-time meeting between NIU and Olivet Nazarene.

NO. NAME POS HT. CL. PPG RPG OTHER

0 Marshawn Wilson G 6-3 So. 4.6 2.3 .414 FG%2 Laytwan Porter G 6-2 So. 9.2 2.9 .571 3PT%4 Lacey James F 6-9 So. n/a n/a n/a10 Eugene German G 6-0 Fr. 4.6 1.4 .417 FG%11 Noah McCarty F 6-7 Fr. 2.7 3.6 .750 FT%21 Sean Damaska C 6-7 Grad. 2.7 1.7 3 GP30 Nick Wagner G 6-3 Fr. n/a n/a n/a31 Austin Pauga G 6-6 So. 2.2 1.2 13.1 Min/Gm32 Andrew Zelis C 7-0 Sr. n/a n/a n/a33 Jon Siu G 6-5 So. n/a n/a n/a42 Levi Bradley W 6-7 So. 6.3 2.3 .923 FT%

THE HUSKIE BENCH

C • 34 • SRG • 3 • SR G • 5 • FR

Marin

Maric

Dontel

Highsmith

Justin

Thomas

PPG .............14.0RPG ............... 5.4FG% ............ .534

PPG ............... 6.8 RPG ............... 2.3Stl/Gm .......... 1.6

PPG ............... 4.0 RPG ............... 1.4FG% ............ .520

F • 15 • SO

Jaylen

Key

PPG .............10.6RPG ............... 6.1FG% ............ .494

Date / Time: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 • 7 p.m. CTSite: NIU Convocation Center • DeKalb, Ill.

Radio: WLBK 1360-AM, 98.9-FM (DeKalb) • TuneInLive Stats: NIUHuskies.com

All-time Series: fi rst meeting

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Basketball on Social Media

G • 23 • SR

Aaric

Armstead

PPG .............10.6RPG ............... 6.4FT% ............. .786

Up Next:

Sat., Dec. 17, 2016Florida InternationalMiami, Fla.6 p.m. CT

NIU (4-5)vs.

Olivet Nazarene (2-8)


0 Marshawn Wilson

6-3 • 205 • G • SophomoreOakdale, Minn.Hill- Murray

PPG RPG APG FG% 3-PT% FT%

4.6 2.3 1.7 .414 .182 .730Career Highs Pts: 26 (3/1/16)Reb: 7 (2/2/16) Ast: 4 (11/14/16)

Notes: MAC All-Freshman Team last season ... Scored a season-high 19 pts at Minnesota (Dec. 11) ... 4th overall in points per 40 min (23.1) in 2015-16 ... Ranked 8th in MAC in 3-PT% in 2015-16.

NIU Huskies (4-5, 0-0 MAC) Head Coach: Mark Montgomery, Sixth Season (64-102)

2 Laytwan Porter

6-2 • 185 • G • SophomoreRockford, Ill.Auburn



Notes: Ranked 1st in MAC in 3PT%, T-11th in steals (1.3 pg) and 14th in MAC in assists ... Made 2 FTs with 4.3 sec left in OT to down Indiana St. (11/11) ... Led all MAC FR in asts, T-1st in stls (1.1 pg), a season ago.

3 Dontel Highsmith

6-2 • 200 • G • SeniorDowagiac, Mich.Dowagiac


6.8 2.3 1.4 .358 .143 .618Career Highs Pts: 27 (12/22/13)Reb: 6 (twice) Ast: 3 (4x)

Notes: Shooting 60 percent from the fi eld in the last three games ... Played in fi rst game in 1,045 days in the season opener (11/11) ... Missed the last 2 seasons due to 2 tears of his left ACL.

4 Lacey James

6-9 • 230 • F • SophomoreGrand Rapids, Mich.Rider


n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/aCareer Highs Pts: 6 (12/23/15)Reb: 5 (11/29/15) Ast: n/a

Notes: Comes to NIU from Rider University, where he appeared in 12 games as a freshman last season ... Will sit out this year following transfer.

5 Justin Thomas

5-11 • 180 • G • FreshmanIndianapolis, Ind.Pike


4.0 1.4 0.7 .520 .000 .769Career Highs Pts: 12 (11/30/16)Reb: 6 (12/11/16) Ast: 1 (6x)

Notes: Made his fi rst career start at Minnesota (Dec. 11) ... Averaged 15.5 pts, 3.9 reb, 3.8 ast, 2.6 stl per game at Pike HS ... Named to the 2016 Indiana Basketball Coaches Assoc. Large School All-State Team.

10 Eugene German

6-0 • 165 • G • FreshmanGary, Ind.21st Century Charter


4.6 1.4 0.3 .417 .182 .385Career Highs Pts: 17 (11/26/16)Reb: 4 (11/26/16) Ast: 1 (twice)

Notes: Led the State of Indiana in scoring as a junior (32.0 ppg) and senior (33.5 ppg) at 21st Century Charter ... MVP of Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game in Indianapolis.

11 Noah McCarty

6-7 • 210 • F • FreshmanRock Falls, Ill.Sterling Newman


2.7 3.6 0.4 .421 .000 .750Career Highs Pts: 6 (twice)Reb: 6 (11/19/16) Ast: 1 (3x)

Notes: Made his debut v. Idaho (11/16) after missing two gms to injury ... Averaged 18.2 pts, 10.2 reb per game at Sterling Newman HS ... Named to the Illinois AP Class 2A All-State First Team.

15 Jaylen Key

6-8 • 220 • F • SophomoreMilwaukee, Wis.Homestead


10.6 6.1 0.9 .494 .286 .680Career Highs Pts: 17 (11/14/16)Reb: 10 (twice) Ast: 4 (12/22/15)

Notes: Ranked 13th in rebounding ... Recorded his 2nd career dbl-dbl in opener (13 pts, 10 reb) (11/11) ... Made 26 starts a season ago, the most of any member of last season’s freshman class.

21 Sean Damaska

6-7 • 252 • C • Graduate StudentMilton, Ga.Indiana



Notes: Comes to NIU from Indiana University where he was a four-year member of the football team ... All-Region HS basketball player in Georgia.

23 Aaric Armstead

6-5 • 195 • G • SeniorChicago, Ill.La Jolla Prep (Calif.)



Notes: NIU’s 30th 1,000-point scorer ... Ranked 10th in NIU history in steals (113) ... Ranked 12th in the MAC in rebounds, 13th in FT% ... 2015-16 MAC All-Defensive Team honoree ... Scored in dbl fi g 52 times in his career.

30 Nick Wagner

6-3 • 190 • G • FreshmanGalesville, Wis.Gale-Ettrick-Trempea


n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/aCareer Highs Pts: n/aReb: n/a Ast: n/a

Notes: Averaged 21.1 pts, 3.8 reb, 3.4 ast per game at Gale-Ettrick-Trempea HS ... Named to the Wisconsin AP All-State Third Team.

31 Austin Pauga

6-6 • 210 • G • SophomoreNaperville, Ill.IMG Academy



Notes: Has not committed a turnover in 118 minutes ... Missed 12 games last season due to injury ... Scored 15 points, on fi ve three-pointers, in his collegiate debut against Cal State Northridge (11/12/15).

32 Andrew Zelis

7-0 • 255 • C • SeniorWheaton, Ill.Kaskaskia College


n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/aCareer Highs Pts: 12 (12/22/15)Reb: 7 (12/22/15) Ast: 1 (twice)

Notes: Will miss the 2016-17 season following an ACL injury ... Began his college career at Stetson before transfering to Kaskaskia College.

33 Jon Siu

6-5 • 195 • G • SophomoreHong KongMiddlesex School


n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/aCareer Highs Pts: n/aReb: n/a Ast: n/a

Notes: Did not see action last season ... Spent a postgraduate year at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H. after attending Middlesex School in Concord, Mass.

34 Marin Maric

6-11 • 250 • C • SeniorSplit, CroatiaLa Lumiere School (Ind.)


14.0 5.4 1.0 .534 .333 .700Career Highs Pts: 25 (11/11/16)Reb: 14 (twice) Ast: 4 (12/29/15)

Notes: Ranked 18th in the MAC in scoring ... Ranked 12th in the conference in fi eld goal percentage ... Preseason All-MAC West selection ... 2015-16 All-MAC Third Team honoree ... Has 15 career double-doubles.

42 Levi Bradley

6-7 • 210 • W • SophomoreMilwaukee, Wis.Pius XI



Notes: Shot a team-high 77.1% from the FT line last season ... Shooting a team-best 92.3% from the line this season ... Scored in double fi gures 10 times last year ... Has two career double-doubles.


UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

Name of School .......................Northern Illinois UniversityLocation ......................................................................DeKalb, Ill.Founded ................................................................................1895Enrollment ........................................................................ 21,138Nickname ........................................................................HuskiesAffi liation ......................................................... NCAA Division IConference..........................Mid-American (West Division)Colors ...........................................................Cardinal and BlackArena ................................. NIU Convocation Center (9,100)President ...................................................... Dr. Douglas BakerAssoc. VP/Athletic Director .......................... Sean T. Frazier

NIU BASKETBALL HISTORY

First Year of Basketball ............................................... 1900-01All-time Record ...................................................... 1,223-1,256First Year of Division I Basketball ............................ 1967-68All-time Division I Record ......................................... 606-767NCAA Appearances ............................ 3 (1982, 1991, 1996)NCAA Tournament Appearances ............ 3 (1982, ‘91, ‘96)Record in the NCAA Tournament .................................... 0-3NCAA Tournament Games ........................................................ ..........................March 12, 1982: L, 77-68 v. Kansas State ................................... March 8, 1991: L, 75-68 v. St. John’s .............................. March 15, 1996: L, 74-73 v. Texas Tech

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE HISTORY

Seasons in the MAC .................... 30 (1975-86, 1997-pres.)Record in the MAC Tournament .......................................12-21MAC Tournament Titles ..................................................1 (1982)

BASKETBALL STAFF

Head Coach ..............................................Mark MontgomeryAlma Mater ...........................................Michigan State, 2003Career Record/Years ............................................. 64-102/6thNIU Record/Years .............................................................. SameBest Time to Reach Coach .................................Contact SIDAssociate Head Coach ......................................Jon BorovichAlma Mater ...................................... Central Michigan, 2001Assistant Coach ...................................................Lou DawkinsAlma Mater .............................................................. Tulsa, 1994Assistant Coach ...................................................Jason LarsonAlma Mater .................................... Grand Valley State, 2004Director of Player Development ..................... Chad PeckaGraduate Assistant .................................................. Sean SimsAssistant Director of Basketball Ops ........Julian SpringerAthletic Trainer ................................................Kelsey CannonBasketball Sport Performance Coach............Matt Jacobs

TEAM INFORMATION

2015-16 Record .................. 21-13 (18-1 home, 3-10 road)2015-16 MAC Record........................ 9-9 (T-3rd MAC West)Starters Returning/Lost .......................................................3/2Letterwinners Returning/Lost...........................................8/5

NIU MEDIA RELATIONS

Basketball Contact .............................................. Jeremy ReidOffi ce Phone .......................................................815-753-3706Cell Phone ...........................................................716-867-1908E-mail ................................................................. [email protected] Address ........................... 209 Convocation Center ................... 1525 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL 60115Press Row Phone ..............................................815-753-6767

NIU Quick FactsABOUT OLIVET NAZARENE

• The Tigers have a 2-8 overall record and will face Robert Morris (Illinois), on Tuesday before coming to DeKalb on Wednesday night. • Nic Reed leads the way for Olivet Nazarene, averaging 20.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest. Reed is one of three players scoring in double fi gures for the Tigers as Tyler Crater averages 15.6 points and Dakota Bennington chips in 12.7 points per contest.• Olivet Nazarene is shooting 80 percent (144-of-180) from the free-throw line as a team this season, to lead the nation at the NAIA Division II level. • Ralph Hodge is in his 38th season as head coach of the Tigers. He has led Olivet Nazarene to the NAIA National Tournament 18 times, including a Final Four appearance in 2000.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE TIGERS

• Wednesday will be the fi rst all-time meeting between NIU and Olivet Nazarene.

MOVING UP THE CHARTS

• Against Cal Poly on Nov. 23, Aaric Armstead moved into 10th in NIU history in steals, Armstead currently has 113 career steals and is four behind NIU radio color commentator Rodney Davis (1984-88) for ninth all-time (117).• Travon Baker set the NIU career steals record last season, fi nishing his career with 184 career steals.• Armstead has 1,008 career points, becoming the 30th player in school history to reach the century mark. Armstead moved over the 1,000-point mark with his nine points at Indiana State (Nov. 30). Armstead became the fi rst Huskie to reach 1,000 points since Xavier Silas, who recorded 1,072 in just two seasons (2009-11). The senior from Chicago is currently tied with Terry Kulp (1960-64) for 29th on NIU’s all-time scoring list. • Armstead has appeared in 101 career games, including 91 starts. The senior from Chicago has scored in double fi gures 52 times and has led NIU in scoring on 28 occasions. • In the three games in the NIU Thanksgiving Classic, Armstead averaged 18.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, shooting 48.6 percent (17-of-35) from the fi eld, including 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from three and 85 percent (17-of-20) from the free-throw line. • Armstead is leading the Huskies in rebounding, pulling down 6.4 boards per contest, 11th-best in the Mid-American Conference. • Armstead also ranks 12th in the MAC in free throw percentage (.786, 33-of-42), tied for 15th in blocks (0.9 per game) and 10th in minutes (30.9 per contest).

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE

• Marin Maric is currently averaging 14.0 points per game, 18th in the MAC. He is shooting 53.4 percent (47-of-88) from the fi eld to rank 12th in the conference. • Maric has scored in double fi gures in seven of nine games this season and has reached the mark 35 times in his career, including 24 last season. • In the season opener against Indiana State (Nov. 11), Maric scored a career-high 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting.• Maric recorded his fi rst double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds against Elon (Nov. 25). Maric has 15 career double-doubles, tied for 31st among active players in the country, with the fi rst 14 all coming last season; his 14 double-doubles in 2015-16 tied for the third-most in the MAC. • Against Minnesota (Dec. 11), Maric recorded a season-high three blocked shots, giving him 58 during his Huskie career, the ninth-most in school history. • Maric is averaging 16.5 points per game in home games this season, shooting 62.7 percent (37-of-59) from the fi eld, including 50 percent (4-of-8) from behind the three-point line.

A KEY FOR THE HUSKIES

• Jaylen Key has been an important contributor to the Huskies early in the 2016-17 campaign, as he ranks second on the team in scoring (10.6 points per game) and second in rebounding (6.1 boards per contest). • In the season opener against Indiana State (Nov. 11), Key recorded NIU’s fi rst double-double of the season, and the second of his career, with 13 points and 10 rebounds. • In the second game of the season against Roosevelt (Nov. 14), Key recorded a career-high 17 points, going

NIU Career Steals LeadersRank No. Player Years

1. 184 Travon Baker 2012-162. 163 Ronald Minter 1993-973. 135 Vaurice Patterson 1991-93, 94-964. 133 P.J. Smith 2001-045. 131 Donald Whiteside 1987-916. 130 T.J. Lux 1995-007. 127 Kenny Battle 1984-868. 120 Mike Lipnisky 1990-959. 117 Rodney Davis 1984-8810. 113 Aaric Armstead 2013-Present

NIU Career Blocks LeadersRank No. Player Years

1. 210 James Hughes 2003-072. 156 T.J. Lux 1995-003. 145 Marcus Smallwood 2000-044. 134 Hubert Register 1991-955. 89 Andrew Wells 1987-916. 80 Steve Oldendorf 1990-947. 68 Antwon Harmon 1988-918. 65 Matt Nelson 1998-029. 58 Marin Maric 2013-Present10. 54 Todd Peterson 2002-06


CAREER TOTALS FOR CURRENT HUSKIES

POINTS

Aaric Armstead ...................................................................................1008Marin Maric .............................................................................................654Marshawn Wilson .................................................................................374Levi Bradley ............................................................................................285Jaylen Key ................................................................................................284Laytwan Porter ......................................................................................250Dontel Highsmith .................................................................................176Austin Pauga ............................................................................................75Andrew Zelis ............................................................................................54Eugene German ......................................................................................37Justin Thomas ..........................................................................................36Noah McCarty ..........................................................................................19Lacey James (all at Rider) .....................................................................12Sean Damaska ........................................................................................... 8Jon Siu .......................................................................................................... 0Nick Wagner ............................................................................................... 0

REBOUNDS

Aaric Armstead ......................................................................................507Marin Maric .............................................................................................435Jaylen Key ................................................................................................178Levi Bradley ............................................................................................141Laytwan Porter ......................................................................................103Marshawn Wilson .................................................................................101Dontel Highsmith ...................................................................................60Andrew Zelis ............................................................................................59Noah McCarty ..........................................................................................25Austin Pauga ............................................................................................22Justin Thomas ..........................................................................................13Lacey James (all at Rider) .....................................................................13Eugene German ......................................................................................11Sean Damaska ........................................................................................... 5Jon Siu .......................................................................................................... 0Nick Wagner ............................................................................................... 0

ASSISTS

Laytwan Porter ......................................................................................103Aaric Armstead ........................................................................................86Marin Maric ...............................................................................................55Marshawn Wilson ...................................................................................43Jaylen Key ..................................................................................................29Dontel Highsmith ...................................................................................25Levi Bradley ..............................................................................................18Austin Pauga ............................................................................................14Justin Thomas ............................................................................................ 6Noah McCarty ............................................................................................ 3Andrew Zelis .............................................................................................. 2Eugene German ........................................................................................ 2Sean Damaska ........................................................................................... 1Jon Siu .......................................................................................................... 0Lacey James ................................................................................................ 0Nick Wagner ............................................................................................... 0

STEALS

Aaric Armstead ......................................................................................113Laytwan Porter ........................................................................................49Marin Maric ...............................................................................................36Dontel Highsmith ...................................................................................25Marshawn Wilson ...................................................................................23Jaylen Key ..................................................................................................20Levi Bradley ..............................................................................................18Austin Pauga ............................................................................................16Justin Thomas ............................................................................................ 3Andrew Zelis .............................................................................................. 2Eugene German ........................................................................................ 2Lacey James (all at Rider) ....................................................................... 2Noah McCarty ............................................................................................ 1Jon Siu .......................................................................................................... 0Sean Damaska ........................................................................................... 0Nick Wagner ............................................................................................... 0

BLOCKS (TOP THREE ONLY)

Marin Maric ...............................................................................................58Aaric Armstead ........................................................................................47Jaylen Key ..................................................................................................19

a perfect 7-of-7 from the fi eld and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. • At home this season, Key is shooting 53.8 percent (28-of-52) from the fi eld while averaging 11.7 points per game.

GUESS WHO’S BACK

• Dontel Highsmith saw his fi rst game action in 1,045 days when he started and played 21 minutes in the season opener against Indiana State (Nov. 11). • Highsmith averaged 10.5 points per game in 11 games as a freshman in 2013-14 before tearing his left ACL on Dec. 31, 2013 at Iowa State. • Highsmith had scored in double fi gures in fi ve of his last six games, including a 27-point eff ort in a road win at UC Riverside (Dec. 22, 2013) that earned his MAC West Player of the Week honors and 19 points prior to his injury against No. 13 Iowa State.• Highsmith looked to return in 2014-15 following the fi rst ACL tear, but tore it again just before the season. The second tear required two surgeries and forced Highsmith to miss both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. • Highsmith recorded his fi rst double fi gure scoring game since his freshman season when he scored 16 points, with fi ve rebounds and three assists, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19). • Over his last three games, Highsmith is shooting 60 percent (9-of-15) from the fi eld, includ-ing 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting at Minnesota (Dec. 11). Highsmith has scored in double fi gures in both of his career games against Big Ten foes, the other being a 13-point eff ort against Nebraska (Nov. 30, 2013) during his freshman year.

RUNNING THE POINT

• Following the graduation of four-year starter Travon Baker, Laytwan Porter has taken over the point guard duties for the Huskies. Porter is averaging 9.2 points and 2.8 assists per game.• Porter’s 2.8 assists per contest currently ranks 14th in the MAC while his 1.3 steals per game is tied for 11th in the conference. Last season, Porter led all freshman in the MAC with 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per contest. • Porter leads the MAC in three-point shooting at 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from beyond the arc, he has made two-or-more triples in fi ve games this season. • In the opener against Indiana State (Nov. 11), Porter sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 4.3 seconds left in overtime to give the Huskies an 80-78 victory. • At Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19), Porter set a new career-high with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-3 from three, with six rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers.

WORKING OVERTIME

• NIU’s 80-78 season-opening, overtime win over Indiana State was the fi rst opener to go to overtime for the Huskies since Nov. 19, 1997 when NIU claimed a 70-60 overtime win at Sacramento State. • The Huskies played their second overtime game of the season on Nov. 25, when NIU fell to Elon, 85-80, in double overtime. • Under head coach Mark Montgomery, the Huskies are 7-4 overall in overtime games, with a 5-3 record in single overtimes and 2-1 in double overtime contests. • NIU played just one game that went beyond 40 minutes last season, a 78-75 double overtime win over Florida International (Dec. 19, 2015).

MARIC NAMED PRESEASON

MAC WEST; HUSKIES PICKED

THIRD IN MAC WEST

• Senior Marin Maric was named to the Preseason All-MAC West Team,

Overtime Games Under

Mark MontgomeryDate Opponent ResultDec. 7, 2012 at Milwaukee L, 80-73 (ot)Jan. 15, 2014 Kent State L, 73-64 (ot)Feb. 1, 2014 at Ball State W, 67-65 (ot)Feb. 20, 2014 Eastern Michigan W, 61-59 (2ot)Mar. 10, 2014 Bowling Green W, 54-51 (ot)Dec. 19, 2014 at Dartmouth L, 58-55 (ot)Jan. 2, 2015 UC Riverside W, 72-67 (ot)Mar. 6, 2015 at Ball State W, 71-67 (ot)Dec. 19, 2015 Florida International W, 78-75 (2ot)Nov. 11, 2016 Indiana State W, 80-78 (ot)Nov. 25, 2016 Elon L, 85-80 (2ot)

NIU IN THE RANKINGS

(AS OF DEC. 13) ALL MAC NAT’L MAC MAC GMS RANK RANK GMS RANK

Scoring Offense 74.3 9 163 n/a n/aScoring Defense 71.1 4 167 n/a n/aScoring Margin +3.2 7 164 n/a n/aFree Throw Percentage .699 4 151 n/a n/aField Goal Percentage .430 8 229 n/a n/aField Goal Defense .428 9 170 n/a n/a3-Point Field Goal Percentage .295 11 323 n/a n/a3-Point Field Goal Defense .315 4 84 n/a n/aRebounding Offense 39.0 8 73 n/a n/aRebounding Defense 36.3 8 n/a n/a n/aRebounding Margin +2.7 6 132 n/a n/aBlocks Per Game 3.3 7 173 n/a n/aAssists Per Game 11.4 11 306 n/a n/aSteals Per Game 6.9 2 131 n/a n/aTurnovers Per Game 13.8 6 187 n/a n/aTurnovers Forced Per Game 16.1 2 45 n/a n/aTurnover Margin +2.4 3 74 n/a n/aAssist/Turnover Ratio 0.8 11 293 n/a n/aOffensive Rebounds 13.2 T-3 41 n/a n/aDefensive Rebounds 25.8 9 179 n/a n/aDefensive Rebound Percentage .716 7 n/a n/a n/aOffensive Rebound Percentage .336 5 n/a n/a n/a3-Point Field Goals Made 4.9 12 329 n/a n/a


becoming the fi rst Huskie to earn the preseason honor since 2012.• Maric averaged 11.9 points (24th in the MAC) and 8.4 rebounds (fi fth in the MAC) per game a season ago and recorded 14 double-doubles, tied for the third-most in the MAC.• Maric was joined on the Preseason All-MAC West Team by Franko House (Ball State), James Thompson IV (Eastern Michigan), Jonathan Williams (Toledo) and Thomas Wilder (Western Michigan). • NIU was picked to fi nish third in the MAC West in the league’s preseason poll, selected behind division favorite Eastern Michigan and defending division champion Ball State, and ahead of 4) Toledo, 5) Western Michigan and 6) Central Michigan.

WHAT THE OTHERS ARE SAYING…

• Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook ranked the NIU backcourt as the third-best in the MAC. Blue Ribbon picked the Huskies to fi nish third in the MAC West. • The Sporting News ranked Marin Maric as the fi fth-best player in the MAC and had freshman Eugene German ranked as the second-best newcomer in the conference. The publication picked NIU to fi nish third in the MAC West. • USA Today Sports and Athlon each picked the Huskies to fi nish second in the MAC West Division. Lindy’s picked NIU to fi nish third in the MAC West.

HOME SWEET HOME

• NIU is 37-8 at home since Feb. 12, 2014 after posting a 1-2 record in the NIU Thanksgiving Classic. NIU’s back-to-back setbacks against Cal Poly (Nov. 23) and Elon (Nov. 25) were its fi rst consecutive home losses since falling to Toledo (Jan. 31, 2015) and Bowling Green (Feb. 7, 2015). • Last season, NIU posted an 18-1 home record, setting a new school record with a 15-game home winning streak that began on Feb. 28, 2015 against Central Michigan and was ended with last season’s lone home loss against Buff alo on Feb. 2, 2016. • Two of the longest home winning streaks in school history have come during head coach Mark Montgomery’s tenure, last year’s school record 15-game streak and an 11-game streak between the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. • NIU will play 17 home games during the 2016-17 season.

WHAT’S BACK FOR THE HUSKIES

• NIU returns eight letterwinners and three starters from a season ago, while welcoming six newcomers to the roster in 2016-17. • NIU brings back 66.9 percent of its minutes, 72.6 percent of its scoring, 81.1 percent of its rebound-ing, 47.4 percent of its assists, 85.6 percent of its blocked shots and 62.8 percent of its steals from the 2015-16 season.• NIU returns three double-fi gure scorers from a season ago in Marin Maric (11.9 ppg), Marshawn Wilson (11.0 ppg) and Aaric Armstead (10.9 ppg). This marks the fi rst time NIU has had three double-fi gure scorers returning since the 1999-2000 season.• All three of NIU’s all-conference honorees from a season ago return in 2016-17. Marin Maric was named to the All-MAC Third Team last season, Aaric Armstead was named to the MAC’s All-Defensive Team and Marshawn Wilson was named to the All-Freshman Team.

HUSKIES ADD TWO FOR 2017-18

• NIU head coach Mark Montgomery announced the signing of Owen Hamilton (Prescott, Wis.) to a National Letter of Intent on Nov. 9, 2016.• Hamilton averaged 15.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game last season at Prescott High School, helping the Cardinals to a 22-4 record. • The 7-foot Hamilton was a Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division Three First Team All-State honoree and a First Team All-Middle Boarder Conference selection.• Hamilton is rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN.com.• NIU head coach Mark Montgomery then announced the signing of Tommy Demogerontas to a National Letter of Intent on Nov. 15, 2016. • Demogerontas will join the Huskies from Moraine Valley Community College, where he averaged 13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season.• At 6-foot-7, Demogerontas shot 55.7 percent from the fi eld last season at Moraine Valley as he earned

Huskie Career Double-DoublesMarin Maric (15)Nov. 28, 2015, at Idaho ................................... 13 pts, 11 rebDec. 2, 2015, Chicago State ........................... 12 pts, 14 rebDec. 19, 2015, Florida International ........... 17 pts, 11 rebDec. 29, 2015, UIC ............................................. 11 pts, 13 rebJan. 6, 2016, Ohio.............................................. 22 pts, 14 rebJan. 9, 2016, Eastern Michigan ..................... 18 pts, 10 reb Jan. 12, 2016, at Toledo .................................. 16 pts, 12 rebFeb. 2, 2016, Buff alo ......................................... 19 pts, 11 rebFeb. 6, 2016, at Ohio ........................................ 11 pts, 10 rebFeb. 9, 2016, at Kent State ............................. 14 pts, 10 rebFeb. 13, 2016, Akron ........................................ 17 pts, 11 rebFeb. 16, 2016, Bowling Green ....................... 10 pts, 12 rebFeb. 19, 2016, at Ball State ............................. 13 pts, 11 rebFeb. 23, 2016, at Central Michigan ............. 10 pts, 11 rebNov. 25, 2016, Elon ........................................... 23 pts, 10 reb

Aaric Armstead (6)Feb. 20, 2014, Eastern Michigan .................. 13 pts, 10 rebNov. 28, 2015, at Idaho ................................... 17 pts, 10 rebFeb. 6, 2016, at Ohio ........................................ 15 pts, 10 rebFeb. 27, 2016, Western Michigan ................ 18 pts, 10 reb Mar. 28, 2016, v. UC Santa Barbara ............. 12 pts, 10 rebNov. 25, 2016, Elon ........................................... 24 pts, 16 reb

Levi Bradley (2)Jan. 2, 2016, Judson ......................................... 19 pts, 10 rebMarch 7, 2016, Western Michigan .............. 13 pts, 12 reb

Jaylen Key (2)Feb. 2, 2016, Buff alo ......................................... 12 pts, 10 rebNov. 11, 2016, Indiana State ......................... 13 pts, 10 reb

COVERING THE HUSKIES

PRACTICE AVAILABILITY

NIU head coach Mark Montgomery and Huskie student-athletes are available for interviews prior to practice. Practices are typically held in the NIU Con-vocation Center, please contact Jeremy Reid in the NIU Athletic Media Relations offi ce (815-753-3706 or [email protected]) for exact times and locations. Practices are generally open to the media.

HOME GAME COVERAGE

For media wishing to cover a NIU home game please contact Jeremy Reid in the NIU Athletic Media Relations offi ce (815-753-3706 or [email protected]) to arrange credentials.

POSTGAME AVAILABILITY

The NIU locker room is closed to the media following games. For home games, Coach Montgomery and players will be available in the media room following post-game radio obligations. For remote coverage of road games, please make arrangements through Jeremy Reid prior to the game.

INTERVIEWS

For interviews outside of practice or postgame, please contact Jeremy Reid in the NIU Athletic Media Relations offi ce (815-753-3706 or [email protected]). No interviews will be allowed the day of a game. Please submit your request at least 24 hours in advance.

MID-MAJOR TOP 25 (DEC. 12)

No. School Record Pts. Prev.

1. Gonzaga (31) 10-0 775 1 2. Wichita State 9-2 731 4 3. UT Arlington 8-3 665 7 4. Valparaiso 8-2 651 3 5. UNCW 8-1 650 5 6. Saint Mary’s 7-1 635 2 7. Fort Wayne 8-3 562 6 8. Chattanooga 7-2 530 8 9. Monmouth 8-2 507 10 10. Oakland 9-1 451 12 11. ETSU 7-2 435 9 12. BYU 7-3 393 15 13. Ohio 5-2 370 11 14. Belmont 4-3 301 14 15. New Mexico State 8-2 299 18 16. Florida Gulf Coast 7-3 297 16 17. Loyola (Chicago) 9-2 249 19 18. Illinois State 5-3 224 13 19. UL Lafayette 8-2 212 20 20. Tennessee State 7-2 175 17 21. Arkansas State 7-2 164 21 22. Little Rock 8-2 113 NR 23. Iona 6-3 90 NR 24. Akron 7-3 76 22 25. Charleston 7-3 73 NR OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Northern Iowa 54, Vermont 48, Princeton 44, Grand Canyon 28, Yale 26, Eastern Michigan 25, Stephen F Austin 24, North Dakota State 17, San Francisco 18, Sam Houston State 17, CSU Bakersfi eld 13, UC Irvine 13, Winthrop 13, Elon 12, Albany 11, South Dakota 11, Eastern Washington 10, South Alabama 10, Northern Kentucky 10, Buff alo 8, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 7, UT Martin 6, Harvard 4, Lehigh 4, UNC Asheville 4, Bucknell 3, Evansville 3, Central Michigan 2, Utah Valley 2, UMBC 1.


AP TOP 25 (DEC. 12)

No. School Record Pts.

1 Villanova (56) 10-0 1,6132 UCLA (3) 10-0 1,5053 Kansas 9-1 1,4554 Baylor (6) 8-0 1,4395 Duke 10-1 1,3916 Kentucky 9-1 1,2777 North Carolina 10-1 1,2228 Gonzaga 10-0 1,1959 Indiana 8-1 1,12410 Creighton 10-0 1,04311 Louisville 9-1 98112 West Virginia 8-1 86413 Virginia 8-1 84814 Wisconsin 9-2 77915 Purdue 8-2 65216 South Carolina 8-0 59817 Xavier 8-2 52618 Butler 9-1 49219 Arizona 8-2 43620 Saint Mary’s 7-1 39121 Notre Dame 9-1 31022 Oregon 8-2 25123 Florida State 10-1 22724 USC 9-0 15825 Cincinnati 7-2 155 OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Florida 44, Wichita State 33, Virginia Tech 32, Maryland 31, Valparaiso 9, TCU 8, Middle Tennessee 7, Miami 6, Minnesota 6, Kansas State 4, UCF 2, Syracuse 2, Ohio State 2, Pittsburgh 2, Michigan State 2, Iowa State 1, Clemson 1, Loyola-Chicago 1.

USA TODAY COACHES TOP 25 (DEC. 12)

No. School Record Pts.

1. Villanova (28) 10-0 7962 UCLA (2) 10-0 7503 Kansas (1) 9-1 7124 Duke (1) 10-1 6905 Baylor 8-0 6576 North Carolina 10-1 6347 Kentucky 9-1 6288 Gonzaga 10-0 6029 Indiana 8-1 53410 Creighton 10-0 52611 Louisville 9-1 44912 Virginia 8-1 43213 West Virginia 8-1 42314 Wisconsin 9-2 34615 South Carolina 8-0 32016 Purdue 8-2 30517 Xavier 8-2 25818 Butler 9-1 25719 Arizona 8-2 22020 Saint Mary’s 7-1 19221 Notre Dame 9-1 18022 Oregon 8-2 12223 Florida State 10-1 6123 Cincinnati 7-2 6125 USC 9-0 51

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Florida 48, Wichita State 29, Maryland 23, Syracuse 16, Virginia Tech 14, Miami 13, Michigan State 9, Arkansas 7, California 7, Oklahoma State 7, Colorado 5, Iowa State 4, Michigan 3, Middle Tennessee 3, TCU 2, Texas A&M 2, UT-Arlington 1, Minnesota 1.

All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference honors. Demogerontas will have two seasons of eligibility remaining when he joins the Huskies in 2017-18. • Demogerontas attended Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Ill., where he earned All-Southwest Suburban Conference Blue honors as a senior, averaging 13 points and four rebounds per game.

NIU LOSES A LEGEND

• The winningest head coach in NIU men’s basketball history, John McDougal, passed away on Friday, Oct. 28, 2016 at the age of 92.• McDougal led the Huskies for 10 seasons from 1976-86, guiding NIU to its fi rst NCAA Tourna-ment berth in 1982. McDougal fi nished his NIU career with a 136-141 record.• In his 10 seasons in DeKalb, McDougal posted a record of 136-141, he mentored fi ve honor-able mention All-Americans, two Academic All-Americans, two MAC Players of the Year, 11 All-MAC honorees and six members of the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame.• McDougal was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.

2015-16 YEAR IN REVIEW

• NIU won 21 games in 2015-16, tied for the second-most in a single-season in school history. The school record is 25, set in 1990-91 when the Huskies went 25-6. NIU also won 21 games in 1971-72 when the Huskies went 21-4.• The Huskies are coming off their fourth postseason appearance in school history. NIU was invited to the Vegas 16, where it fell to UC Santa Barbara, 70-63, in the quarterfi nals. The Vegas 16 bid was NIU’s fi rst postseason tournament since appearing in the 1996 NCAA Tournament.• Last season, the Huskies led the MAC in fi eld goal percentage defense (40.4 percent), rebounding (39.1 per game) and rebounding margin (+4.3). NIU ranked 36th nationally in fi eld goal percentage defense.• NIU set new school records for points (2,463), three-point fi eld goals made (238), three-point fi eld goals attempted (681) and assists (475) last season. The Huskies also recorded the second-most free throws made in a single-season (541), the second-most free throws attempted (791), the second-most steals (250) and the third-best season for blocks (118) in school history.• The Huskies ranked 284th in the nation in experience last season according to KenPom, making NIU the second-youngest team in the MAC behind Ohio. Last season, the Huskies saw 39.8 percent of their points and 31.3 percent of their rebounds come from the freshman class of Levi Bradley, Jaylen Key, Austin Pauga, Laytwan Porter and Marshawn Wilson.• NIU went 18-1 at home last season, setting a new school record with a 15-game home winning streak that began on Feb. 28, 2015 against Central Michigan and concluded with its lone home defeat of the 2015-16 season against Buff alo on Feb. 2, 2016. The Huskies are 33-6 at home since Feb. 12, 2014.• The Huskies have won 50 games over the last three seasons, the best three-year stretch at NIU since winning 51 between 1994-95 and 1996-97.

NIU Career 1,000 Point Scorers

1. 1,996 T.J. Lux 1995-002. 1,853 Donnell Thomas 1987-913. 1,848 Allen Rayhorn 1978-824. 1,749 Paul Dawkins 1975-795. 1,657 Leon Rodgers 1998-026. 1,559 Tim Dillon 1980-847. 1,513 Matt Hicks 1974-778. 1,402 Jarry Zielinski 1069-729. 1,331 Billy Harris 1970-7310. 1,306 Larry Gentry 1956-6011. 1,276 Marcus Smallwood 2000-0412. 1,245 John Harris 1975-7913. 1,210 P.J. Smith 2001-0414. 1,192 John Olson 1953-5815. 1,185 Mike Lipnisky 1990-9516. 1,175 Rodney Davis 1984-8817. 1,155 Donald Whiteside 1987-9118. 1,152 Darion “Jake” Anderson 2007-1019. 1,134 Jim Bradley 1971-7320. 1,114 George Bork 1960-6321. 1,090 Mike McKinney 2003-0722. 1,080 Chris Coleman 1994-9723. 1,072 Kenny Battle 1984-86 1,072 Xavier Silas 2009-1125. 1,070 Todd Peterson 2002-0626. 1,063 Willie Hanson 1964-6727. 1,058 Mike Brown 1997-0128. 1,011 James Hughes 2003-0729. 1,008 Terry Kulp 1960-64 1,008 Aaric Armstead 2013-present


2 0 1 6 - 1 7 N I U H U S K I E SNo. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Class Hometown (Last School) First Name Last Name

0 Marshawn Wilson 6-3 205 G So. Oakdale, Minn./Hill-Murray common common2 Laytwan Porter 6-2 185 G So. Rockford, Ill./Auburn lay - twan common3 Dontel Highsmith 6-2 200 G Sr. Dowagiac, Mich./Dowagiac don - tell common4 Lacey James 6-9 230 F So. Grand Rapids, Mich./Wayland Union/Rider common common5 Justin Thomas 5-11 180 G Fr. Indianapolis, Ind./Pike common common10 Eugene German 6-0 165 G Fr. Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter common common11 Noah McCarty 6-7 210 F Fr. Rock Falls, Ill./Sterling Newman common common15 Jaylen Key 6-8 220 F So. Milwaukee, Wis./Homestead common common21 Sean Damaska 6-7 252 C Grad. Milton, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic/Indiana common da -mask - a23 Aaric Armstead 6-5 195 G Sr. Chicago, Ill./La Jolla Prep (Calif.) eric common30 Nick Wagner 6-3 190 G Fr. Galesville, Wis./Gale-Ettrick-Trempea common common31 Austin Pauga 6-6 210 G So. Naperville, Ill./IMG Academy common paw – ga32 Andrew Zelis 7-0 255 C Sr. Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North/Kaskaskia College common zell – iss33 Jon Siu 6-5 195 G So. Hong Kong/Middlesex School common sue34 Marin Maric 6-11 250 C Sr. Split, Croatia/La Lumiere School (Ind.) MAR – in MAR - itch 42 Levi Bradley 6-7 210 W So. Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI common common

Head Coach: Mark MontgomeryAssistant Coaches: Jon Borovich, Lou Dawkins and Jason LarsonDirector of Player Development/Operations: Chad Pecka Graduate Assistant: Sean Sims Assistant Director of Basketball Operations: Julian Springer

Marshawn Wilson

Sophomore

Guard0

Laytwan Porter

Sophomore

Guard2

Dontel Highsmith

Senior

Guard3

Lacey James

Sophomore

Forward4

Justin Thomas

Freshman

Guard5

Eugene German

Freshman

Guard10Noah McCarty

Freshman

Forward11

Jaylen Key

Sophomore

Forward15

Sean Damaska

Grad Student

Center21

Nick Wagner

Freshman

Guard30

Austin Pauga

Sophomore

Guard31Andrew Zelis

Senior

Center32

Marin maricJon Siu

Sophomore

Guard33

Aaric Armstead

Senior

Guard23

2 0 1 6 - 1 7 2 0 1 6 - 1 7 N I U B A S K E T B A L L R O S T E R

Senior

Center34

Mark Montgomery

Head Coach

Sixth Season

Levi Bradley

Sophomore

Wing42


MISC. STATS

Largest halftime lead ....................................................................................................... 29, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016)Largest halftime defi cit ....................................................................................................... 10, Cal Poly (Nov. 23, 2016)Largest halftime lead surrendered to lose .............................................................................9, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016)Largest halftime defi cit overcome to win ....................................................................................................................n/aLargest lead at any time .................................................................................................. 48, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016)Largest defi cit at any time ........................................................................................23, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016)Largest lead surrendered to lose ..........................................................9, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016)................................................................................................................................................................9, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016)Largest defi cit overcome to win ..............................................................................5, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016)Largest margin of victory ............................................................................................... 44, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016)Largest margin of defeat ..........................................................................................20, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016)Most points scored in a half ......................................................................55, Roosevelt -- fi rst half (Nov. 14, 2016)Fewest points scored in a half .......................................................................... 21, Idaho -- fi rst half (Nov. 16, 2016)Most points allowed in a half ..................................50, at Cal State Northridge -- second half (Nov. 19, 2016)Fewest points allowed in a half ....................................................................... 21, Idaho -- fi rst half (Nov. 16, 2016)

Head Coach Mark Montgomery

• Sixth season at NIU.• Sixth overall season as a head coach.• Spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Michigan State.• Also spent four years as an assistant at Central Michigan (1997-2001).• Four-year letterwinner at Michigan State (1988-92).• Follow him on Twitter @NIUCoachMonty

Associate Head Coach Jon Borovich

• Sixth season at NIU.• Spent four seasons as an assistant at Dayton (2007-11). • Helped the Flyers to the 2010 NIT Championship.• Worked as an assistant at Oakland for two seasons (2005-07).• Played at Central Michigan (1997-2001) while Montgomery was an assistant with the Chip-pewas.

Assistant Coach Lou Dawkins

• Sixth season at NIU.• Spent seven seasons at head coach at Saginaw (Mich.) High School. • Had a record of 149-28 at Saginaw, winning Class A State Championships in 2007 and 2008.• Played at Tulsa from 1989-94 under J.D. Barnett and Tubby Smith. • Cousin of NIU fourth-leading scorer Paul Dawkins (1975-79).

Assistant Coach Jason Larson

• Sixth season at NIU.• Fourth season as an assistant coach with the Huskies, spent fi rst two seasons as Director of Basketball Operations. • Came to NIU after spending four seasons at Utah as Video Coordi-nator (2007-08) and Director of Player Development (2008-11).

Pts in Paint Pts off TO 2nd Chance Fast Break Bench Pts Largest Largest Lead

Result (NIU/Opp) (NIU/Opp) (NIU/Opp) (NIU/Opp) (NIU/Opp) Lead Deficit Changes Ties

N11 INDIANA STATE W, 80-78 (ot) 30/28 5/9 10/7 8/6 22/25 12 5 9 4

N14 ROOSEVELT W, 99-55 49/16 25/6 11/5 13/4 48/24 48 none 0 1

N16 IDAHO W, 63-49 16/22 9/9 16/11 2/6 21/8 14 3 4 6

N19 at Cal State Northridge L, 84-82 34/38 18/7 20/6 6/14 12/35 9 5 5 7N23 CAL POLY L, 68-64 28/16 21/15 13/2 6/4 18/31 6 10 11 8

N25 ELON L, 85-80 (2ot) 46/26 19/18 23/10 4/6 10/19 9 8 7 7

N26 UIC W, 92-81 46/32 22/21 13/12 10/8 31/14 15 none 0 2

N30 at Indiana State L, 63-52 24/38 14/17 11/10 6/4 19/14 4 13 5 5D11 at Minnesota L, 77-57 36/38 17/7 9/9 12/6 22/20 2 23 1 0D14 OLIVET NAZARENE

D17 at Florida InternationalD20 at South FloridaD31 ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD

J3 at Miami (Ohio)*J7 CENTRAL MICHIGAN*

J10 at Kent State*J14 at Bowling Green*J17 MIAMI (OHIO)*

J21 OHIO*

J24 KENT STATE*

J28 at Toledo*J31 AKRON*

F4 EASTERN MICHIGAN*

F7 at Buff alo*F11 at Western Michigan*F14 BALL STATE*

F18 TOLEDO*

F21 at Central Michigan*F25 at Eastern Michigan*F28 WESTERN MICHIGAN*

M3 at Ball State*

SPECIALTY STATS

ABOUT THE STAFF

THE IZZO COACHING TREE

Mark Montgomery became the eighth Tom Izzo assistant coach to become a Division I head coach, and is one of two current head coaches:

• Tom Crean, Indiana University

The six other Izzo assistants that have been Division I head coaches are:

• Jim Boylen, Utah • Mike Garland, Cleveland State• Brian Gregory, Dayton/Georgia Tech• Stan Heath, Kent State/Arkansas/USF• Stan Joplin, Toledo • Doug Wojcik, Tulsa/Coll. of Charleston


INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2016-17 NIU BASKETBALL STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

TEAM GAMES FG-FGA PCT. 3F-3PA PCT. FT-FTA PCT. O-D TOT AVG. FOUL DQ AST AVG TO BLK STL PTS AVG

OVERALL (4-5) 9 237-551 .430 44-149 .295 151-216 .699 119-232 351 39.0 174 3 103 11.4 123 30 62 669 74.3HOME (4-2) 6 169-358 .472 32-99 .323 108-156 .692 79-158 237 39.5 110 2 73 12.2 83 17 38 478 79.7AWAY (0-3) 3 68-193 .352 12-50 .240 43-60 .717 40-74 114 38.0 64 1 30 10.0 40 13 24 191 63.7NEUTRALNON-CONF (4-5) 9 237-551 .430 44-149 .295 151-216 .699 119-232 351 39.0 174 3 103 11.4 123 30 62 669 74.3CONFERENCE

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2016-17 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Monty

RECORD BY VENUE Overall MAC Overall Years MAC

Overall 4-5 64-102 54-51 31-55Home (NIU Convocation Center) 4-2 49-37 42-15 21-22Away 0-3 15-61 12-33 10-33Neutral 0-4 0-3


RECORD BY HALFTIME Overall MAC Overall Years MAC

When NIU leads at halftime 4-3 46-21 38-14 19-12When NIU trails at halftime 0-2 15-77 14-34 9-39When NIU is tied at halftime 3-4 2-3 3-4


RECORD BY SCORING OFFENSE Overall MAC Overall Years MAC

When NIU scores 100+ points 2-0 2-0When NIU scores 90-99 points 2-0 3-0 3-0When NIU scores 80-89 points 1-2 13-2 13-2 6-0When NIU scores 70-79 points 22-7 17-5 13-4When NIU scores 60-69 points 1-1 16-31 12-23 8-20When NIU scores 50-59 points 0-2 7-36 6-15 3-18When NIU scores 40-49 points 1-23 1-6 1-11When NIU scores less than 40 points 0-3 0-0 0-2


RECORD BY SCORING DEFENSE Overall MAC Overall Years MAC

When opponent scores 100+ points When opponent scores 90-99 points 0-5 0-3 0-2When opponent scores 80-89 points 1-2 2-11 2-8 1-5When opponent scores 70-79 points 1-1 5-33 5-18 2-20When opponent scores 60-69 points 0-2 27-32 22-16 20-17When opponent scores 50-59 points 1-0 22-17 18-6 4-8When opponent scores 40-49 points 1-0 7-4 6-0 3-3When opponent scores less than 40 points 1-0 1-0 1-0


MARGIN OF VICTORY Overall MAC Overall Years MAC

Game decided by 1-5 points 1-3 22-32 18-21 14-17Game decided by 6-10 points 14-20 13-10 6-14Game decided by 11-20 points 2-2 17-33 13-14 10-16Game decided by 21+ points 1-0 11-17 10-6 1-8


OVERTIME RECORD Overall MAC Overall Years MAC

Overtime 1-0 5-3 5-2 2-1Double Overtime 0-1 2-1 2-1 1-0


RECORD BY MONTH Overall MAC Overall Years MAC

November 4-4 16-19 15-9December 0-1 10-20 9-9January 17-24 12-14 13-24February 14-26 12-12 14-24March 7-13 6-7 4-7

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU leads in FG%, NIU is 4-0 51-16 42-10When opponent leads in FG%, NIU is 0-5 12-86 11-41When game ends tied in FG%, NIU is 1-0 1-0

3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU leads in 3FG%, NIU is 3-0 41-26 33-14When opponent leads in 3FG%, NIU is 1-5 23-74 21-36When game ends tied in 3FG%, NIU is 0-2 0-1

FREE THROW SHOOTING 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU attempts more FT, NIU is 3-3 43-31 38-21When opponent attempts more FT, NIU is 1-2 19-65 14-25When game ends tied in FT attempts, NIU is 2-6 2-5

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU leads in FT%, NIU is 2-3 35-44 33-25When opponent leads in FT%, NIU is 2-2 29-57 21-25When game ends tied in FT%, NIU is 0-1 0-1

REBOUNDING 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU leads in rebounds, NIU is 3-4 52-45 43-21When opponent leads in rebounds, NIU is 1-1 10-52 9-27When game ends tied in rebounds, NIU is 2-5 2-3

ASSISTS 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU leads in assists, NIU is 2-0 36-21 27-11When opponent leads in assists, NIU is 1-5 21-77 20-39When game ends tied in assists, NIU is 1-0 7-4 7-1

BLOCKS 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU leads in blocks, NIU is 4-1 34-20 29-9When opponent leads in blocks, NIU is 0-2 14-69 12-37When game ends tied in blocks, NIU is 0-2 16-13 13-5

STEALS 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU leads in steals, NIU is 2-3 36-42 35-23When opponent leads in steals, NIU is 2-0 23-50 16-22When game ends tied in steals, NIU is 0-2 5-10 3-6

TURNOVERS 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU has more turnovers, NIU is 1-1 23-57 17-25When opponent has more turnovers, NIU is 2-3 35-39 31-21When game ends tied in turnovers, NIU is 1-1 6-6 6-5

FOULS 2016-17 Monty Last 4 Yrs

When NIU has more fouls, NIU is 1-1 15-73 10-33When opponent has more fouls, NIU is 3-2 47-24 43-14When game ends tied in fouls, NIU is 0-2 2-5 1-4


INSIDE THE NUMBERS

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 11 17 21 3 52Marin Maric (Sr.) 1 3 24 7 35Marshawn Wilson (So.) -- -- 16 1 17Levi Bradley (So.) -- -- 10 2 12Jaylen Key (So.) -- -- 4 5 9Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 5 3 8Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 5 -- -- 2 7Austin Pauga (So.) -- -- 2 2Eugene German (Fr.) -- -- -- 2 2Andrew Zelis (Sr.) -- -- 1 1Justin Thomas (Fr.) -- -- -- 1 1

20+ POINT GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Marshawn Wilson (So.) -- -- 5 5Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 0 0 3 2 5Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 0 2 2 4Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 1 -- -- 1

30+ POINT GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

none

7+ REBOUND GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Marin Maric (Sr.) 1 5 23 4 33Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 5 5 13 3 26Levi Bradley (So.) -- -- 5 1 6Jaylen Key (So.) -- -- 3 2 5Andrew Zelis (Sr.) -- -- 1 1Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 1 1Marshawn Wilson (So.) -- -- 1 1

10+ REBOUND GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 0 14 1 15Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 1 1 4 1 7Levi Bradley (So.) -- -- 2 2Jaylen Key (So.) -- -- 1 1 2

5+ ASSIST GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 2 2

10+ ASSIST GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 1 1

3+ STEAL GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 4 4 2 10Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 3 1 4Austin Pauga (So.) -- -- 2 2Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 0 1 1 2Jaylen Key (So.) -- -- 1 1Marshawn Wilson (So.) -- -- 1 1Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 0 -- -- 1 1

5+ STEAL GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

none

3+ BLOCK GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 0 6 1 7Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 0 0 0 1 1

5+ BLOCK GAMES

13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 CAREER

Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 0 2 2

TIME ON THE COURT CAREER CAREER CONSEC CONSECPLAYER GAMES STARTS GAMES STARTSAaric Armstead (Sr.) 101 91 55 45Marin Maric (Sr.) 73 47 11 9Jaylen Key (So.) 43 35 43 9Levi Bradley (So.) 43 1 43 0Laytwan Porter (So.) 43 9 43 0Marshawn Wilson (So.) 38 9 3 0Austin Pauga (So.) 28 0 9 0Andrew Zelis (Sr.) 27 0 0 0Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 20 17 9 9Lacey James (So.) (all at Rider) 12 0 0 0Justin Thomas (Fr.) 9 0 9 0Eugene German (Fr.) 8 0 0 0Noah McCarty (Fr.) 7 0 7 0Sean Damaska (Grad) 3 0 0 0Jon Siu (So.) 0 0 0 0Nick Wagner (Fr.) 0 0 0 0

LED NIU IN ... SCORING

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 CAREER

Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 6 9 11 2 28Marshawn Wilson (So.) -- -- 9 1 10Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 0 4 2 6Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 3 -- -- 3Levi Bradley (So.) -- -- 2 2Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 0 2 2Jaylen Key (So.) -- -- 0 1 1Justin Thomas (Fr.) -- -- -- 1 1

LED NIU IN ... REBOUNDING

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 CAREER

Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 5 22 1 28Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 3 3 5 3 14Levi Bradley (So.) -- -- 5 5Jaylen Key (So.) -- -- 0 4 4Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 1 -- -- 1Andrew Zelis (Sr.) -- -- 1 1Marshawn Wilson (So.) -- -- 1 1Justin Thomas (Fr.) -- -- -- 1 1

LED NIU IN ... ASSISTS

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 CAREER

Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 6 5 11Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 0 1 3 2 6Marshawn Wilson (So.) -- -- 0 3 3Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 1 -- -- 1Levi Bradley (So.) -- -- 1 1Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 0 0 1 1

LED NIU IN ... BLOCKS

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 CAREER

Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 7 16 4 27Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 6 6 8 3 23Jaylen Key (So.) -- -- 6 2 8Andrew Zelis (Sr.) -- -- 6 6Levi Bradley (So.) -- -- 5 1 6Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 3 2 5Austin Pauga (So.) -- -- 2 2Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 1 -- -- 1Noah McCarty (Fr.) -- -- -- 1 1

LED NIU IN ... STEALS

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 CAREER

Aaric Armstead (Sr.) 10 11 8 3 32Laytwan Porter (So.) -- -- 13 2 15Marin Maric (Sr.) -- 2 7 1 10Dontel Highsmith (Sr.) 4 -- -- 3 7Marshawn Wilson (So.) -- -- 4 1 5Jaylen Key (So.) -- -- 3 3Austin Pauga (So.) -- -- 2 1 3Levi Bradley (So.) -- -- 1 1 2Andrew Zelis (Sr.) -- -- 1 1Justin Thomas (Fr.) -- -- -- 1 1

INSIDE THE NUMBERS


GAME-BY-GAME PLAYER STATISTICS (PTS-REB-AST)

0 • WILSON 2 • PORTER 3 • HIGHSMITH 4 • JAMES 5 • THOMAS 10 • GERMAN 11 • McCARTY 15 • KEY

N11 INDIANA STATE 6-4-1 7-5-4 5-1-1 DNP 0-1-1 2-1-1 DNP 13-10-1

N14 ROOSEVELT 3-3-4 12-3-4 4-2-3 DNP 8-1-1 14-1-0 DNP 17-6-1

N16 IDAHO 2-2-2 12-2-1 9-3-1 DNP 3-1-1 0-3-0 5-2-1 6-6-0

N19 at Cal State Northridge 2-3-2 19-6-3 16-5-3 DNP 2-0-1 0-0-1 0-6-0 14-8-0N23 CAL POLY DNP 9-2-4 5-4-1 DNP 0-0-0 2-2-0 6-5-1 7-5-1

N25 ELON DNP 8-3-4 0-3-2 DNP 0-0-1 0-0-0 6-5-0 15-6-2

N26 UIC 0-0-1 7-2-4 5-1-0 DNP 4-0-0 17-4-0 0-2-0 12-5-2

N30 at Indiana State 0-2-0 8-1-0 7-1-1 DNP 12-4-1 2-0-0 2-5-0 5-6-1D11 at Minnesota 19-2-2 1-2-1 10-1-1 DNP 7-6-0 DNP 0-0-1 6-3-0D14 OLIVET NAZARENE




J21 OHIO*

J24 KENT STATE*

J28 at Toledo* J31 AKRON*



F18 TOLEDO*


M3 at Ball State*

21 • DAMASKA 23 • ARMSTEAD 30 • WAGNER 31 • PAUGA 32 • ZELIS 33 • SIU 34 • MARIC 42 • BRADLEY

N11 INDIANA STATE DNP 8-3-1 DNP 0-3-0 DNP DNP 25-7-0 14-7-0

N14 ROOSEVELT 7-4-1 8-4-0 DNP 9-4-3 DNP DNP 10-1-3 7-5-0

N16 IDAHO DNP 4-5-1 DNP 1-1-0 DNP DNP 11-4-0 10-1-0

N19 at Cal State Northridge DNP 7-7-4 DNP 0-0-0 DNP DNP 14-7-0 8-1-0N23 CAL POLY DNP 11-6-3 DNP 6-0-1 DNP DNP 14-3-0 4-1-1

N25 ELON DNP 24-16-1 DNP 2-3-1 DNP DNP 23-10-1 2-1-1

N26 UIC 0-0-0 21-7-1 DNP 2-0-1 DNP DNP 16-4-2 8-1-0

N30 at Indiana State 1-1-0 9-6-1 DNP 0-0-0 DNP DNP 4-8-2 2-2-0D11 at Minnesota DNP 3-4-2 DNP 0-0-1 DNP DNP 9-5-1 2-2-1D14 OLIVET NAZARENE




J21 OHIO*

J24 KENT STATE*

J28 at Toledo* J31 AKRON*



F18 TOLEDO*


M3 at Ball State*


GAME-BY-GAME TEAM STATISTICS

Date Game W/L Score FG-FGA PCT. 3F-3PA PCT. FT-FTA PCT. O-D TOT F/EJ A TO BLK STL 1st 2nd ot ot TP

N11 NIU W 80 26-64 .406 4-18 .222 24-37 .649 14-34 48 17/0 10 12 5 6 36 36 8 - 80

Indiana State 78 25-72 .347 10-36 .278 18-22 .818 13-30 43 28/0 14 10 4 7 29 43 6 - 78

N14 NIU W 99 40-66 .606 11-27 .407 8-16 .500 11-28 39 12/0 20 8 4 10 55 44 - - 99

Roosevelt 55 21-52 .404 10-29 .345 3-5 .600 5-23 28 19/0 12 21 1 3 26 29 - - 55

N16 NIU W 63 17-43 .395 4-14 .286 25-35 .714 8-29 37 24/0 7 17 1 6 21 42 - - 63

Idaho 49 18-57 .316 4-26 .154 9-22 .409 16-25 41 31/2 7 17 0 4 21 28 - - 49

N19 NIU L 82 28-82 .341 7-23 .304 19-24 .792 23-24 47 21/0 14 8 4 6 36 46 - - 82 at Cal State Northridge 84 28-54 .519 5-13 .385 23-28 .821 5-34 39 21/0 20 15 5 3 34 50 - - 84N23 NIU L 64 21-50 .420 4-13 .308 18-23 .783 12-21 33 15/0 12 16 1 5 21 43 - - 64

Cal Poly 68 24-47 .511 11-22 .500 9-12 .750 9-19 22 20/1 14 16 1 5 31 37 - - 68

N25 NIU L 80 31-73 .425 5-19 .263 13-21 .619 20-29 49 16/0 13 14 2 6 33 29 8 10 80

Elon 85 32-67 .478 14-38 .368 7-17 .412 12-27 49 20/0 16 18 2 6 24 38 8 15 85

N26 NIU W 92 34-62 .548 4-8 .500 20-24 .833 14-17 31 26/0 11 16 4 5 42 50 - - 92

UIC 81 23-51 .451 6-17 .353 29-37 .784 13-16 29 24/0 7 18 2 7 38 43 - - 81

N30 NIU L 52 18-52 .346 3-16 .188 13-21 .619 10-29 39 20/0 6 20 6 8 26 26 - - 52 at Indiana State 63 25-56 .446 4-20 .200 9-18 .500 9-29 38 20/0 15 16 3 7 24 39 - - 63D11 NIU L 57 22-59 .373 2-11 .182 11-15 .733 7-21 28 23/1 10 12 3 10 23 34 - - 57 at Minnesota 77 24-58 .414 4-15 .267 25-30 .833 16-32 48 16/0 17 14 4 9 29 48 - - 77D14 NIU

Olivet Nazarene D17 NIU at Florida International D20 NIU at South Florida D31 NIU

Illinois-Springfield J3 NIU at Miami (Ohio)* J7 NIU

Central Michigan* J10 NIU at Kent State* J14 NIU at Bowling Green* J17 NIU

Miami (Ohio)*

J21 NIU

Ohio*

J24 NIU

Kent State* J28 NIU at Toledo* J31 NIU

Akron*

F4 NIU

Eastern Michigan*

F7 NIU at Buffalo* F11 NIU at Western Michigan* F14 NIU

Ball State*

F18 NIU

Toledo* F21 NIU at Central Micigan* F25 NIU at Eastern Michigan* F28 NIU

Western Michigan* M3 NIU at Ball State*


TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES IN 2016-17

TEAM SUPERLATIVES

NIU HIGHS LOWS

Points 99, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 52, at Indiana State (Nov. 30, 2016) Field Goals 40, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 17, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Field Goal Attempts 82, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) 43, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Field Goal Percentage .606, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) .341, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) Three-Point Field Goals 11, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 2, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Three-Point Attempts 27, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 8, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Three-Point Percentage .500, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) .182, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Free Throws 25, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) 8, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) Free Throw Attempts 37, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 15, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Free Throw Percentage .833, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) .500, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) Rebounds 49, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) 28, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Off ensive Rebounds 23, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) 7, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Defensive Rebounds 34, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 17, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Personal Fouls 26, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) 12, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) Assists 20, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 6, at Indiana State (Nov. 30, 2016) Turnovers 20, at Indiana State (Nov. 30, 2016) 8, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 8, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) Blocked Shots 6, at Indiana State (Nov. 30, 2016) 1, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) 1, Cal Poly (Nov. 23, 2016) Steals 10, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 5, Cal Poly (Nov. 23, 2016) 10, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) 5, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016)

OPPONENTS HIGHS LOWS Points 85, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) 49, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Field Goals 32, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) 18, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Field Goal Attempts 72, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 51, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Field Goal Percentage .519, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) .316, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Three-Point Field Goals 14, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) 4, three times, last: at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Three-Point Attempts 38, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) 13, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) Three-Point Percentage .500, Cal Poly (Nov. 23, 2016) .154, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Free Throws 29, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) 3, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) Free Throw Attempts 37, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) 5, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) Free Throw Percentage .833, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) .409, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Rebounds 48, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) 22, Cal Poly (Nov. 23, 2016) Off ensive Rebounds 16, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) 3, Cal Poly (Nov. 23, 2016) 16, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Defensive Rebounds 34, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) 16, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Personal Fouls 31, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) 16, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Assists 20, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) 7, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) 7, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Turnovers 21, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 10, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) Blocked Shots 5, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) 0, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Steals 9, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) 3, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 3, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016)

INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES

INDIVIDUALS NIU OPPONENTS Points 25, Marin Maric, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 31, Dikembe Dixson, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Field Goals 11, Marin Maric, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 10, Brenton Scott, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 10, Aaron Parks, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) Field Goal Attempts 19, Dontel Highsmith, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) 25, Brenton Scott, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 19, Aaric Armstead, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) Field Goal Percentage (Min. 5 Made) 1.000, Jaylen Key, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) .769, Aaron Parks, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) Three-Point Field Goals 4, Laytwan Porter, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 5, Steven Santa Ana, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) Three-Point Attempts 7, Austin Pauga, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 14, Brenton Scott, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 7, Aaric Armstead, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) Three-Point Percentage (Min. 3 Made) .750, Laytwan Porter, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) .667, Kyle Toth, Cal Poly (Nov. 23, 2016) Free Throws 7, four times, last: Maric, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) 14, Dikembe Dixson, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Free Throw Attempts 14, Marin Maric, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) 20, Dikembe Dixson, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Free Throw Percentage (Min. 7 Made) .875, Dontel Highsmith, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) .917, Kendall Smith, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) .875, Marin Maric, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Rebounds 16, Aaric Armstead, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) 11, Reggie Lynch, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Assists 4, six times, last: Porter, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) 8, Kendall Smith, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) Turnovers 6, Laytwan Porter, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) 6, Tarkus Ferguson, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) 6, Laytwan Porter, at Indiana State (Nov. 30, 2016) Blocked Shots 3, Aaric Armstead, at Indiana State (Nov. 30, 2016) 3, Brandon Murphy, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 3, Marin Maric, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) 3, Reggie Lynch, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) Steals 3, three times, last: Maric, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) 4, Akeem Springs, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016)


TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES IN THE MARK MONTGOMERY ERA

TEAM SUPERLATIVES

NIU HIGHS LOWS

Points 111, Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) (Nov. 24, 2013) 25, at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 26, 2013) Field Goals 41, Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) (Nov. 24, 2013) 8, at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 26, 2013) Field Goal Attempts 82, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) 39, at Eastern Michigan (March 5, 2012) 39, Eastern Michigan (Feb. 21, 2015) Field Goal Percentage .606, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) .200, Western Michigan (Jan. 19, 2013) Three-Point Field Goals 14, Ball State (March 4, 2016) 1, four times, last: Eastern Michigan (Feb. 20, 2014) Three-Point Attempts 33, at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 26, 2013) 6, Akron (Jan. 21, 2015) Three-Point Percentage .692, at Miami (Jan. 9, 2013) .030, at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 26, 2013) Free Throws 30, Buff alo (Feb. 2, 2016) 3, three times, last: at Utah Valley (Nov. 28) Free Throw Attempts 43, Kent State (Jan. 15, 2014) 5, at Purdue (Nov. 11, 2011) 5, at Boise State (Nov. 26, 2011) Free Throw Percentage .955, Eastern Michigan (Jan. 9, 2016) .250, at Utah Valley (Nov. 28, 2011) Rebounds 67, Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) (Nov. 24, 2013) 26, three times, last: at Miami (Feb. 4, 2015) Off ensive Rebounds 31, Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) (Nov. 24, 2013) 3, at Eastern Michigan (March 5, 2012) Defensive Rebounds 46, Indiana Northwest (Nov. 25, 2015) 11, Western Michigan (Jan. 19, 2013) Personal Fouls 32, at UW Milwaukee (Dec. 7, 2012) 9, Judson (Nov. 18, 2012) Assists 32, Eureka (Nov. 21, 2015) 3, at Toledo (March 5, 2013) 3, at Western Michigan (Feb. 14, 2015) Turnovers 28, at Purdue (Nov. 11, 2011) 5, at Eastern Michigan (March 11, 2013) 5, at Ball State (Feb. 19, 2016) Blocked Shots 10, Miami (Feb. 4, 2014) 0, 12 times, last: at Ball State (March 6, 2015) Steals 17, Bowling Green (March 10, 2014) 2, three times, last: Toledo (Feb. 26, 2014)

OPPONENTS HIGHS LOWS Points 99, at Iowa State (Dec. 31, 2013) 36, at Bowling Green (Jan. 12, 2014) Field Goals 37, at Iowa State (Dec. 31, 2013) 12, at Bowling Green (Jan. 12, 2014) Field Goal Attempts 72, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 35, three times, last: at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 26, 2013) Field Goal Percentage .589, at Notre Dame (Dec. 22, 2014) .235, Judson (Jan. 2, 2016) Three-Point Field Goals 15, Akron (Feb. 13, 2016) 1, Miami (Feb. 4, 2014) 1, Western Michigan (Feb. 27, 2016) Three-Point Attempts 38, Judson (Jan. 2, 2016) 11, four times, last: Ball State (March 8, 2014) 38, Elon (Nov. 25, 2016) Three-Point Percentage .691, at Iowa (Nov. 17, 2011) .067, Miami (Feb. 4, 2014) Free Throws 32, Buff alo (Feb. 2, 2016) 2, Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) (Nov. 24, 2013) Free Throw Attempts 44, Buff alo (Feb. 2, 2016) 3, Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) (Nov. 24, 2013) Free Throw Percentage .952, at Western Michigan (Jan. 11, 2012) .409, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Rebounds 48, at Minnesota (Dec. 11, 2016) 19, Judson (Nov. 18, 2012) 19, Central Michigan (Feb. 12, 2014) Off ensive Rebounds 22, at Washington (Dec. 22, 2012) 1, Judson (Nov. 18, 2012) Defensive Rebounds 35, at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 26, 2013) 13, Central Michigan (Feb. 12, 2014) 13, Central Michigan (Feb. 28, 2015) Personal Fouls 31, Buff alo (Feb. 2, 2016) 9, at Valparaiso (Nov. 13, 2012) 31, Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Assists 28, at Iowa State (Dec. 31, 2013) 2, Eastern Michigan (Feb. 20, 2014) Turnovers 25, Hampton (Dec. 29, 2014) 4, Ohio (Jan. 6, 2016) Blocked Shots 12, at Iowa (Nov. 26, 2014) 0, 11 times, last: Idaho (Nov. 16, 2016) Steals 14, at Purdue (Nov. 11, 2011) 1, at Idaho (Nov. 28, 2015) 14, Eastern Michigan (Feb. 20, 2014) 1, at Ball State (Feb. 19, 2016)

INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES

INDIVIDUALS NIU OPPONENTS Points 27, Dontel Highsmith, at UC Riverside (Dec. 22, 2013) 31, Dikembe Dixson, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) 27, Jordan Threloff , Eastern Michigan (Feb. 20, 2014) Field Goals 11, Marin Maric, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) 10, fi ve times, last: Aaron Parks, at Cal State Northridge (Nov. 19, 2016) Field Goal Attempts 22, Abdel Nader, Toledo (Feb. 2, 2013) 25, Brenton Scott, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) Field Goal Percentage (Min. 5 Made) 1.000, Jaylen Key, Roosevelt (Nov. 14, 2016) 1.000, Reggie McAdams, Akron (Jan. 12, 2013) 1.000, Kwan Cheatham, at Akron (Jan. 26, 2016) Three-Point Field Goals 7, Travon Baker, Eastern Michigan (Jan. 9, 2016) 7, Braylon Rayson, at Central Michigan (Feb. 18, 2015) Three-Point Attempts 11, twice, last: Travon Baker, Toledo (Jan. 22, 2016) 14, Brenton Scott, Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) Three-Point Percentage (Min. 3 Made) 1.000, three times, last: Aaric Armstead, at CMU (Feb. 18, 2015) 1.000, Reggie McAdams, Akron (Jan. 12, 2013) 1.000, Kwan Cheatham, Akron (Jan. 12, 2013) Free Throws 14, Travon Baker, Ohio (Jan. 6, 2016) 14, Dikembe Dixson, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Free Throw Attempts 15, Travon Baker, Ohio (Jan. 6, 2016) 20, Dikembe Dixson, UIC (Nov. 26, 2016) Free Throw Percentage (Min. 7 Made) 1.000, twice, last: Marshawn Wilson, at Missouri (Dec. 4, 2015) 1.000, 12 times, last: Geovonie McKnight, at Miami (Jan. 30, 2016) Rebounds 18, Jordan Threloff , Eastern Michigan (Feb. 20, 2014) 16, Dwight Meikle, Hampton (Dec. 29, 2014) Assists 10, Laytwan Porter, Eureka (Nov. 21, 2015) 12, DeAndre Kane, at Iowa State (Dec. 31, 2013) 12, Jaaron Simmons, at Ohio (Feb. 6, 2016) Turnovers 7, three times, last: Darrell Bowie, at Kent State (Jan. 29, 2014) 8, Rian Pearson, at Toledo (Jan. 18, 2012) 8, Chris Fowler, at Central Michigan (Feb. 18, 2015) Blocked Shots 6, Marin Maric, Western Michigan (Feb. 27, 2016) 8, Javon McCrea, at Buff alo (Jan. 8, 2014) Steals 8, Aaron Armstead, Hampton (Dec. 29, 2014) 6, Thomas Wilder, Western Michigan (Feb. 27, 2016)


THE LAST TIME...

IN THE FINAL SECONDS

NIU won in the final seconds: Nov. 11, 2016, Indiana State: Laytwan Porter, two free throws, 4.3 secondsNIU lost in the final seconds: March 1, 2016, at Eastern Michigan: Tim Bond three, 2.5 secondsNIU played in overtime: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon: NIU lost 85-80 (2ot)NIU played in double overtime: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon: NIU lost 85-80NIU won an overtime game: Nov. 11, 2016, Indiana State: NIU won 80-78NIU lost an overtime game: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon: NIU lost 85-80 (2ot)

TEAM SCORING

NIU scored 80 or more points: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC: NIU won 92-81NIU scored 90 or more points: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC: NIU won 92-81NIU scored 100 or more points: Nov. 21, 2015, Eureka: NIU won 100-52NIU scored fewer than 50 points: Jan. 27, 2015, at Bowling Green: NIU lost 56-46An opponent scored 100 point or more points: Dec. 8, 2007, at Notre Dame: Notre Dame won 108-62An opponent scored fewer than 50 points: Nov. 16, 2016, Idaho: NIU won 63-49

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

A player had 20 or more points: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC: Aaric Armstead (21)A player had 30 or more points: Feb. 12, 2011, Kent State: Xavier Silas (34)A player had 40 or more points: Dec. 14, 2010, Illinois-Chicago: Xavier Silas (40)A player had 50 or more points: Feb. 15, 1958, at Eastern Michigan: Larry Wilke (52)An opponent had 20 or more points: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC: Dikembe Dixson (31)An opponent had 30 or more points: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC: Dikembe Dixson (31)

MULTIPLE DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING

NIU had three double-digit scorers: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC: Aaric Armstead (21), Eugene German (17), Marin Maric (16), Jaylen Key (12)NIU had four double-digit scorers: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC: Aaric Armstead (21), Eugene German (17), Marin Maric (16), Jaylen Key (12)NIU had five double-digit scorers: March 4, 2016, Ball State: Aaric Armstead (14), Levi Bradley (13), Chuks Iroegbu (12), Travon Baker (11), Marshawn Wilson (11)NIU had two players with 20 or more points: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon: Aaric Armstead (24), Marin Maric (23)

REBOUNDING

A player had 10 or more rebounds: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon: Aaric Armstead (16), Marin Maric (10)A player had 15 or more rebounds: Feb. 14, 2015, at Western Mich.: Jordan Threloff (15)A player had 20 or more rebounds: Nov. 27, 2002, Loyola-Chicago: Marcus Smallwood (21)NIU had two players with 10 or more rebounds: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon: Aaric Armstead (16), Marin Maric (10)NIU had three players with 10 or more rebounds: Feb. 20, 2014, Eastern Michigan: Jordan Threloff (18), Darrell Bowie (12), Aaric Armstead (10)NIU had more than 30 rebounds: Nov. 30, 2016, at Indiana State (39)NIU had more than 40 rebounds: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon (49)NIU had more than 50 rebounds: Jan. 2, 2016, Judson (56)NIU had fewer than 25 rebounds: Nov. 24, 2007, Stephen F. Austin (22)

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

A player had a double-double (points-rebounds): Nov. 25, 2016, Elon: Aaric Armstead (24 points, 16 rebounds), Marin Maric (23 points, 10 rebounds)A player had a double-double (points-assists): Jan. 13, 2010, Western Michigan: Mike DiNunno (21 points, 10 assists)A player had a triple-double: Nov. 30, 1991, Aurora: Mike Hidden (18 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists)A player had consecutive double-doubles: Marin Maric: Feb. 2, 2016 v. Buffalo (19 points, 11 rebounds), Feb. 6, 2016 at Ohio (11 points, 10 rebounds), Feb. 9, 2016 at Kent State (14 points, 10 rebounds), Feb. 13, 2016 v. Akron (17 points, 11 rebounds), Feb. 15, 2016 v. Bowling Green (10 points, 12 rebounds), Feb. 19, 2016 at Ball State (13 points, 11 rebounds), Feb. 23, 2016 at Central Michigan (10 points, 11 rebounds)NIU had two players with double-doubles: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon: Aaric Armstead (24 points, 16 rebounds), Marin Maric (23 points, 10 rebounds)

ASSISTS

A player had five or more assists: Feb. 27, 2016, Western Michigan: Travon Baker (7), Laytwan Porter (5)A player had 10 or more assists: Nov. 21, 2015, Eureka: Laytwan Porter (10)NIU had two players with five or more assists: Feb. 27, 2016, Western Michigan: Travon Baker (7), Laytwan Porter (5)NIU had more than 10 assists: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC (11)NIU had more than 20 assists: Feb. 27, 2016, Western Michigan (22)NIU had more than 30 assists: Nov. 21, 2015, Eureka (32)NIU had less than 10 assists: Nov. 30, 2016, at Indiana State (6)

BLOCKS

A player had five or more blocks: Feb. 27, 2016, Western Michigan: Marin Maric (6)A player had 10 or more blocks: yet to happenNIU had more than five blocks: Nov. 30, 2016, at Indiana State (6)NIU had 10 or more blocks: Feb. 4, 2014, Miami (Ohio) (10)NIU had less than five blocks: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota (3)

STEALS

A player had five or more steals: Jan. 12, 2016, at Toledo: Travon Baker (5)A player had 10 or more steals: yet to happenNIU had more than five steals: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota (10)NIU had more than 10 steals: Jan. 22, 2016, Toledo (11)NIU had more than 15 steals: Mar. 10, 2014, Bowling Green (17)NIU had fewer than five steals: Feb. 6, 2016, at Ohio (4)

FIELD GOALS

NIU had more than 20 field goals made: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota (22)NIU had more than 30 field goals made: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC (34)NIU had more than 40 field goals made: Nov. 24, 2013, Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) (41)NIU had fewer than 20 field goals made: Nov. 30, 2016, at Indiana State (18)

FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS

NIU had more than 50 field goal attempts: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota (59)NIU had more than 60 field goal attempts: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC (62)NIU had more than 70 field goal attempts: Nov. 25, 2016, Elon (73)NIU had more than 80 field goal attempts: Nov. 19, 2016, at Cal State Northridge (82)NIU had fewer than 40 field goal attempts: Feb. 21, 2015, Eastern Michigan (39)

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

NIU shot over 50 percent from the field: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC, 54.8 percent (34-of-62)NIU shot over 60 percent from the field: Nov. 14, 2016, Roosevelt, 60.6 percent (40-of-66)NIU shot less than 40 percent from the field: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota, 37.3 percent (22-of-59)

3-POINT FIELD GOALS

A player had five or more three-point field goals: Jan. 22, 2016, Toledo: Travon Baker (6)NIU had more than 10 three-point field goals: Nov. 14, 2016, Roosevelt (11)NIU had more than 15 three-point field goals: yet to happenNIU had fewer than 10 three-point field goals: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota (2)NIU did not make a three-point field goal: March 2, 2011, Eastern Michigan (0)

3-POINT FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS

NIU had more than 20 3-point field goal attempts: Nov. 19, 2016, at Cal State Northridge (23)NIU had more than 30 3-point field goal attempts: Jan. 26, 2013, at Eastern Michigan (33)NIU had fewer than 10 3-point field goal attempts: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC (8)

3-POINT PERCENTAGE

NIU shot over 40 percent on 3-pointers: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC, 50 percent (4-of-8)NIU shot over 50 percent on 3-pointers: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC, 50 percent (4-of-8)NIU shot less than 30 percent on 3-pointers: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota, 18.2 percent (2-of-11)

FREE THROWS

NIU had more than 20 free throws made: Nov. 16, 2016, Idaho (25)NIU had more than 30 free throws made: Dec. 14, 2010, Illinois-Chicago (39)NIU had less than 10 free throws made: Nov. 14, 2016, Roosevelt (8)

FREE THROW ATTEMPTS

NIU had more than 20 free throw attempts: Nov. 30, 2016, at Indiana State (21)NIU had more than 30 free throw attempts: Nov. 16, 2016, Idaho (35)NIU had more than 40 free throw attempts: March 6, 2015, at Ball State (42)NIU had fewer than 10 free throw attempts: Feb. 25, 2015, at Toledo (8)

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE

NIU shot over 70 percent on free throws: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota, 73.3 percent (11-of-15)NIU shot over 80 percent on free throws: Nov. 26, 2016, UIC, 83.3 percent (20-of-24)NIU shot over 90 percent on free throws: Jan. 9, 2016, Eastern Michigan, 95.5 percent (21-of-22)NIU shot less than 50 percent on free throws: March 10, 2016, vs. Ohio, 45 percent (9-of-20)

FOULS

NIU had more than 10 fouls: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota (23)NIU had more than 20 fouls: Dec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota (23)NIU had less than 10 fouls: Nov. 18, 2012, Judson (9)

TURNOVERS

NIU had more than 10 turnovers: NDec. 11, 2016, at Minnesota (12)NIU had more than 20 turnovers: March 1, 2016, at Eastern Michigan (21)NIU had fewer than 10 turnovers: Nov. 19, 2016, at Cal State Northridge (8)

IN THE RANKINGS

NIU was ranked: Jan. 25, 1972 poll: NIU No. 19 NIU defeated a ranked opponent: Feb. 3, 1973, vs. No. 19 Oral Roberts: NIU won 95-86 at Chicago StadiumNIU lost to a ranked opponent: Dec. 22, 2014, at No. 16 Notre Dame: NIU lost 91-66NIU defeated a ranked opponent at home: Jan. 4, 1972, No. 5 Indiana: NIU won 85-71NIU defeated a ranked opponent on the road: yet to happenNIU faced a No. 1 ranked team: Dec. 8, 1980, at No. 1 DePaul: DePaul won 93-56NIU defeated a No. 1 ranked team: yet to happen


A winner and a program builder. When looking for ways to describe Northern Illinois University men’s basketball head coach Mark Montgomery, those would be two of the most obvious phrases that come to mind.

In 23 seasons in college basketball, as a player and a head coach, Montgomery has been a part

of 15 postseason teams. In fi ve seasons as head coach at NIU, Montgomery rebuilt a program that had produced just two winning seasons in the 15 years prior to his arrival and led it to just its fourth-ever postseason appearance, and the second-most wins in school history.

On March 24, 2011, Mark Montgomery was introduced as the 27th head coach in the history of the NIU men’s basketball program. In 2016-17, Montgomery enters his sixth season at NIU following 10 years at his alma mater, Michigan State University, six as an assistant coach and the last four as associate head coach.

In 2015-16, Montgomery guided NIU to 21 victories, tied for the second-most in school history, while taking the Huskies to the postseason for just the fourth time in school history, and the fi rst time in 20 years, as NIU accepted an invitation to the Vegas 16. Montgomery earned national coaching honors when he received the midseason Hugh Durham Award as the nation’s top mid-major head coach.

NIU led the Mid-American Conference in fi eld goal defense, rebounding off ense and rebounding margin as the principles of the program established by Montgomery had fi rmly taken root. NIU’s success came despite having the second-youngest team in the MAC, a squad that saw nearly 40 percent of its scoring come from freshmen.

Three Huskies earned conference postseason honors, including sophomore Marin Maric who was named to the All-MAC Third Team; Aaric Armstead was named to the MAC All-Defensive Team and Marshawn Wilson was recognized on the MAC All-Freshman Team. It marked the fi rst time since the 2002-03 season that NIU has three all-league honorees.

In addition to its success on the court, the NIU men’s basketball team also achieved in the classroom in 2015-16, posting the highest team GPA on record during the 2015 Fall Semester.

The success of the 2015-16 season was the result building blocks set in place during Montgomery’s fi rst four seasons at the helm in DeKalb.

During his fi rst season at NIU in 2011-12, Montgomery guided one of the youngest teams in the nation to the program’s fi rst MAC Tournament victory since 2003, defeating MAC West Champion Eastern Michigan in the opening round of the conference tournament to advance to Cleveland.

NIU saw 55.9 percent of its minutes played by freshmen during the 2011-12 season, the sixth-highest percentage in the country. The Huskies laid the foundation for Montgomery’s style of play, leading the MAC in off ensive rebounds while ranking second in rebounding defense and third in rebounding margin.

Under Montgomery’s tutelage, Abdel Nader became the fi rst Huskie since 2009 to be named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

Montgomery’s second season at NIU saw the Huskies continue to build the founda-tion of the program with the fourth-least experienced team in the country. The Huskies achieved a number of milestone victories in 2012-13, including the program’s fi rst win at Miami (Ohio) since 1981, its fi rst win at Central Michigan since 2006 and its fi rst victory over Kent State since 2003.

During the 2013-14 season, his third at NIU, Montgomery engineered the largest single-season win improvement in school history, and the 10th-largest nationally for

Mark Montgomery’s Year-by-Year Coaching HistoryYear School Overall Conference Postseason Position1997-98 Central Michigan 5-21 3-15 None Assistant Coach1998-99 Central Michigan 10-16 7-11 None Assistant Coach1999-00 Central Michigan 6-23 2-16 None Assistant Coach2000-01 Central Michigan 20-8 14-4 None Assistant Coach Central Michigan Totals 41-68 26-46

2001-02 Michigan State 19-12 10-6 NCAA First Round Assistant Coach2002-03 Michigan State 22-13 10-6 NCAA Elite Eight Assistant Coach2003-04 Michigan State 18-12 12-4 NCAA First Round Assistant Coach2004-05 Michigan State 26-7 13-3 NCAA Final Four Assistant Coach2005-06 Michigan State 22-12 8-8 NCAA First Round Assistant Coach2006-07 Michigan State 23-12 8-8 NCAA Second Round Assistant Coach2007-08 Michigan State 27-9 12-6 NCAA Sweet 16 Associate Head Coach2008-09 Michigan State 31-7 15-3 NCAA Championship Game Associate Head Coach2009-10 Michigan State 28-9 14-4 NCAA Final Four Associate Head Coach2010-11 Michigan State 19-15 9-9 NCAA First Round Associate Head Coach Michigan State Totals 235-108 111-57

2011-12 NIU 5-26 3-13 None Head Coach2012-13 NIU 5-25 3-13 None Head Coach2013-14 NIU 15-17 8-10 None Head Coach2014-15 NIU 14-16 8-10 None Head Coach2015-16 NIU 21-13 9-9 Vegas 16 Quarterfi nals Head Coach2016-17 NIU 4-5 NIU/Head Coaching Totals 64-102 31-55 Career Coaching Totals 340-278 168-158 10 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 3 Final Fours 2 Big Ten Regular Season Championships 1 MAC Regular Season Championship

the season, as the Huskies recorded a 10-win improvement, going 15-17, NIU’s most victories since the 2005-06 season. Montgomery fi nished second in the voting for MAC Coach of the Year.

Despite having the second-least experienced team in the MAC, Mont-gomery led NIU to its most non-conference wins, six, since 1999-2000 and the Huskies also recorded their fi rst top-50 RPI win, against Toledo on Feb. 26, since December 14, 1999 (Wisconsin).

NIU earned the No. 7 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament and the right to host a fi rst round tournament game for the fi rst time since 2003, while advancing to Cleveland for the second time in three seasons.

Under Montgomery’s guidance, Jordan Threloff earned All-MAC honorable mention recognition and Aaric Armstead was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

The Huskies continued to make strides during the 2014-15 season, Montgomery’s fourth at NIU. The Huskies posted a 14-16 record playing against a strength of schedule ranked 147th in the nation, NIU’s best since 2004-05. Competing in a much-improved MAC, NIU posted an RPI of 188, the school’s best since 2005-06.

The 2014-15 Huskies opened the season with six-straight home wins, tying a school-record with 11 consecutive home victories dating back to 2013-14. NIU posted its fi rst winning non-conference record since 2005-06 and Montgomery’s charges also fi nished the season strong, winning each of their last four regular season games, including a win at Toledo, NIU’s fi rst win over Western Michigan since 2010 and a victory over MAC regular season champion Central Michigan.

During his 10 seasons on Hall of Famer Tom Izzo’s staff at Michigan State from 2001-12, the Spartans made 10 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament and three Final Four appearances. He helped coach 26 All-Big Ten players at Michigan State and six players that went on to be selected in the National Basketball Association Draft, while on the bench for 235 MSU wins - an average of 23.5 victories per season.

An outstanding player during his collegiate career, Montgomery was a four-year letterwinner for Jud Heathcote at Michigan State from 1988-92. A 1992 All-Big Ten Third Team selection, Montgomery ended his career as the then-career leader in games played at MSU (126).

Montgomery received his bachelor’s degree in food industry management from Michigan State. He and his wife, Alexandra, have a son, Nicholas.

Mark MontgomeryHead Coach Sixth Season at NIU


#0 Marshawn WilsonSophomore

Guard6-3205

Oakdale, Minn.Hill-Murray

2016-17 SEASON GAME-BY-GAME

Opponent Date GS Min FG FGA Pct 3FG 3FGA Pct FT FTA Pct O D Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg

INDIANA STATE NOV. 11 19 2 5 .400 0 3 .000 2 3 .667 0 4 4 4.0 1 0 1 3 0 1 6 6.0

ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 22 1 2 .500 0 1 .000 1 3 .333 1 2 3 3.5 1 0 4 1 0 2 3 4.5

IDAHO NOV. 16 22 1 4 .250 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 1 1 2 3.0 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 3.7

at CSUN Nov. 19 14 1 3 .333 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 0 3 3 3.0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 3.3CAL POLY NOV. 23 Did not play

ELON NOV. 25 Did not play

UIC NOV. 26 2 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 0 2.4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2.6

at Indiana State Nov. 30 10 0 2 .000 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 1 1 2 2.3 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2.2at Minnesota Dec. 11 21 7 13 .538 2 4 .500 3 4 .750 0 2 2 2.3 3 0 2 2 0 0 19 4.6OLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14

at FIU Dec. 17at South Florida Dec. 20ILL.-SPRINGFIELD DEC. 31

at Miami (Ohio)* Jan. 3CENTRAL MICH.* JAN. 7

at Kent State* Jan. 10at Bowling Green* Jan. 14MIAMI (OHIO)* JAN. 17

OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24

at Toledo* Jan. 28AKRON* JAN. 31

EASTERN MICH.* FEB. 4

at Buff alo* Feb. 7at Western Mich.* Feb. 11BALL STATE* FEB. 14

TOLEDO* FEB. 18

at Central Mich.* Feb. 21at Eastern Mich.* Feb. 25WESTERN MICH.* FEB. 28

at Ball State* March 3

Totals 0 110 12 29 .414 2 11 .182 6 10 .600 3 13 16 2.3 8 0 12 11 0 3 32 4.6

THE WILSON FILE• Named to the MAC All-Freshman Team in 2015-16.• Ranked 29th in the conference in scoring last season, averaging 11.0 points per game (third-best among MAC Fresh-man).• Ranked 14th in the MAC in free-throw percentage a season ago, shooting 74.4 percent (67-of-90).• Finished last season ranked sixth in the conference in three-point percentage, shooting 41.3 percent (57-of-138). • Scored in double fi gures 16 times a season ago, including fi ve 20-plus point games, and led NIU in scoring nine times. • Averaged 23.3 points per 40 minutes last season, fourth-best in the MAC.• Majoring in Leadership and Management.

2016-17 SEASON BESTS CAREER BESTS

Points 19 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 26 at Eastern Michigan (3/2/16)Field Goals 7 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 9 at Eastern Michigan (3/2/16)Field Goal Attempts 13 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 14 twice, last: vs. Ohio (3/10/16)3-Point Field Goals 2 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 6 at Miami (1/30/16)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 4 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 9 twice, last: at Miami (1/30/16)Free Throws 3 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 10 at Missouri (12/4/15)Free Throw Attempts 4 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 12 Buffalo (2/2/16)Rebounds 4 Indiana State (11/11/16) 7 Buffalo (2/2/16)Offensive Rebounds 1 three times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 3 at Central Michigan (2/23/16)Defensive Rebounds 4 Indiana State (11/11/16) 6 at Eastern Michigan (3/2/16)Assists 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Turnovers 3 Indiana State (11/11/16) 5 at Ohio State (12/16/15)Blocks 1 twice, last: vs. UC Santa Barbara (3/28/16)Steals 2 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 3 Bowling Green (2/16/16)Minutes 22 twice, last: Idaho (11/16/16) 36 at Eastern Michigan (3/2/16)

CAREER STATISTICS

Year G S Min Avg FG FGA FG% 3FG 3FGA 3FG% FT FTA FT% Off Def Reb Avg Foul DQ Ast Avg TO Avg Blk Avg Stl Avg Pts Avg

2015-16 31 9 588 19.0 109 249 .438 57 138 .413 67 90 .744 21 64 85 2.7 55 1 31 1.0 32 1.0 2 0.1 20 0.6 342 11.02016-17 7 0 110 15.7 12 29 .414 2 11 .182 6 10 .600 3 13 16 2.3 8 0 12 1.7 11 1.6 0 0.0 3 0.4 32 4.6Career 38 9 698 18.4 121 278 .435 59 149 .396 73 100 .730 24 77 101 2.7 63 1 43 1.1 43 1.1 2 0.1 23 0.6 374 9.8


#2 Laytwan PorterSophomore

Guard6-2185

Rockford, Ill.Auburn

THE PORTER FILE• Made a pair of free throws with 4.3 seconds left in overtime against Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016) to give NIU an 80-78 victory. • Averaged 2.3 assists per game last season, the most of any freshman in the MAC.• Also averaged 1.1 steals per game, tied for the most of any freshman in the conference. • Had a 1.6 assist/turnover ratio a season ago, the third-best mark among MAC freshmen. • Became the fi rst Huskie with 10-plus assists since Mike DiNunno on Jan. 13, 2010, when he recorded a season-high 10 assists against Eureka last season (Nov. 21, 2015). • Scored in double fi gures fi ve times a season ago and led NIU in assists six times.• Majoring in Industrial Management and Technology.


Points 19 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 19 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Field Goals 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Field Goal Attempts 12 Elon (11/25/16) 12 Elon (11/25/16)3-Point Field Goals 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 6 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 6 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Free Throws 4 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 4 four times, last: at CSUN (11/19/16)Free Throw Attempts 4 three times, last: at CSUN (11/19/16) 7 Western Michigan (1/16/16)Rebounds 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 8 Ohio (1/6/16)Offensive Rebounds 3 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 3 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Defensive Rebounds 5 Indiana State (11/11/16) 6 Ohio (1/6/16)Assists 4 five times, last: UIC (11/26/16) 10 Eureka (11/21/15)Turnovers 6 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 6 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Blocks 1 four times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 1 eight times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Steals 3 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 3 four times, last: at CSUN (11/19/16)Minutes 40 Elon (11/25/16) 40 Elon (11/25/16)



INDIANA STATE NOV. 11 * 31 2 9 .222 0 2 .000 3 4 .750 0 5 5 5.0 3 0 4 1 1 2 7 7.0

ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 * 17 4 6 .667 4 6 .667 0 0 .000 1 2 3 4.0 1 0 4 1 0 1 12 9.5

IDAHO NOV. 16 * 19 3 6 .500 3 4 .750 3 4 .750 0 2 2 3.3 4 1 1 6 0 1 12 10.3

at CSUN Nov. 19 * 27 6 10 .600 3 3 1.000 4 4 1.000 3 3 6 4.0 3 0 3 0 1 3 19 12.5CAL POLY NOV. 23 * 35 3 4 .750 1 1 1.000 2 3 .667 0 2 2 3.6 4 0 4 2 0 1 9 11.8

ELON NOV. 25 * 40 3 12 .250 2 5 .400 0 0 .000 0 3 3 3.5 5 1 4 4 1 1 8 11.2

UIC NOV. 26 * 25 3 3 1.000 1 1 1.000 0 0 .000 0 2 2 3.3 4 0 4 5 0 1 7 10.6

at Indiana State Nov. 30 * 23 3 11 .273 2 6 .333 0 0 .000 0 1 1 3.0 4 0 0 6 1 1 8 10.3at Minnesota Dec. 11 7 0 2 .000 0 0 .000 1 2 .500 0 2 2 2.9 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 9.2OLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 8 224 27 63 .429 16 28 .571 13 17 .765 4 22 26 2.9 29 2 25 26 4 12 83 9.2

CAREER STATISTICS


2015-16 34 1 591 17.4 55 146 .377 21 70 .300 36 48 .750 14 63 77 2.3 61 0 78 2.3 49 1.4 4 0.1 37 1.1 167 4.92016-17 9 8 224 24.9 27 63 .429 16 28 .571 13 17 .765 4 22 26 2.9 29 2 25 2.8 26 2.9 4 0.4 12 1.3 83 9.2Career 43 9 815 19.0 82 209 .392 37 98 .378 49 65 .754 18 85 103 2.4 90 2 103 2.4 75 1.7 8 0.2 49 1.1 250 5.8

PORTER IN THE MAC RANKINGS

ALL RANK CONF. RANK

GAMES ONLY

Assists Per Game 2.8 14th n/a n/aSteals Per Game 1.3 T-11th n/a n/aThree-Point Field Goal Percentage .571 1st n/a n/a


#3 Dontel HighsmithSeniorGuard

6-2200

Dowagiac, Mich.Dowagiac

THE HIGHSMITH FILE• Shooting 60 percent (9-of-15) from the fi eld over the last three games. • Saw his fi rst action in 1,045 days as he scored fi ve points in the season opener against Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016). Missed two seasons following two tears of the ACL in his left knee.• Appeared in 11 games, including eight starts, as a freshman in 2013-14 before tearing his left ACL for the fi rst time at Iowa State on Dec. 31, 2013. • Named MAC West Division Player of the Week on Dec. 23, 2013 after scoring 27 points in a road win at UC Riverside (Dec. 22, 2013).• Had averaged 14.0 points per game over his fi nal six games, including fi ve games in double fi gures, before injury ended his 2013-14 season. • Majoring in Corporate Communications.


Points 16 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 27 at UC Riverside (12/22/13)Field Goals 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 9 at UC Riverside (12/22/13)Field Goal Attempts 19 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 19 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)3-Point Field Goals 1 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 3 at UC Riverside (12/22/13)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Free Throws 7 Idaho (11/16/16) 7 Idaho (11/16/16)Free Throw Attempts 8 twice, last: Idaho (11/16/16) 8 twice, last: Idaho (11/16/16)Rebounds 5 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 6 twice, last: at Iowa State (12/31/13)Offensive Rebounds 2 twice, last: at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 3 at Iowa State (12/31/13)Defensive Rebounds 3 four times, last: Elon (11/25/16) 5 Milwaukee (11/17/13)Assists 3 twice, last: at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 3 four times, last: at CSUN (11/19/16)Turnovers 3 Elon (11/25/16) 3 Elon (11/25/16)Blocks 1 twice, last: at Nebraska (11/30/13)Steals 3 Idaho (11/16/16) 3 Idaho (11/16/16)Minutes 28 twice, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16) 34 at Loyola-Chicago (12/18/13)




ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 * 18 2 4 .500 0 1 .000 0 1 .000 2 0 2 1.5 2 0 3 0 0 1 4 4.5

IDAHO NOV. 16 * 24 1 5 .200 0 1 .000 7 8 .875 0 3 3 2.0 4 0 1 2 0 3 9 6.0

at CSUN Nov. 19 * 28 6 19 .316 1 6 .167 3 5 .600 2 3 5 2.8 0 0 3 0 0 2 16 8.5CAL POLY NOV. 23 * 26 0 3 .000 0 2 .000 5 6 .833 1 3 4 3.0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 7.8

ELON NOV. 25 * 21 0 2 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 3 3 3.0 1 0 2 3 0 1 0 6.5

UIC NOV. 26 * 20 2 3 .667 0 0 .000 1 2 .500 1 0 1 2.7 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 6.3

at Indiana State Nov. 30 * 27 3 5 .600 1 2 .500 0 2 .000 0 1 1 2.5 1 0 1 1 0 2 7 6.4at Minnesota Dec. 11 * 28 4 7 .571 0 1 .000 2 2 1.000 1 0 1 2.3 1 0 1 1 0 1 10 6.8OLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 9 213 19 53 .358 2 14 .143 21 34 .618 8 13 21 2.3 12 0 13 9 0 14 61 6.8

CAREER STATISTICS


2013-14 11 8 251 22.8 41 76 .539 8 23 .348 25 40 .625 14 25 39 3.5 17 0 12 1.1 10 0.9 2 0.2 11 1.0 115 10.52014-15 Did not see game action2015-16 Did not see game action2016-17 9 9 213 23.7 19 53 .358 2 14 .143 21 34 .618 8 13 21 2.3 12 0 13 1.4 9 1.0 0 0.0 14 1.6 61 6.8Career 20 17 464 23.2 60 129 .465 10 37 .270 46 74 .622 22 38 60 3.0 29 0 25 1.3 19 1.0 2 0.1 25 1.3 176 8.8

HIGHSMITH IN THE MAC RANKINGS

ALL RANK CONF. RANK

GAMES ONLY

Steals Per Game 1.6 9th n/a n/a


#5 Justin ThomasFreshman

Guard5-11180

Indianapolis, Ind.Pike

THE THOMAS FILE• Made his fi rst career start at Minnesota (Dec. 11), playing a career-high 28 minutes with seven points and a career-best six rebounds. Became the fi rst of NIU’s freshmen to start a game this season. • Played seven minutes in his collegiate debut against Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016), recorded one assist and one rebound.• Averaged 15.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game as a senior at Indianapolis Pike High School in 2015-16. • Earned Indiana Associated Press High Honorable Mention recognition and was named to the 2016 Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Senior Large School All-State team.• Majoring in Kinesiology. • Left-handed.


Points 12 at Indiana State (11/30/16) 12 at Indiana State (11/30/16)Field Goals 4 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 4 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Field Goal Attempts 8 at Indiana State (11/30/16) 8 at Indiana State (11/30/16)3-Point Field Goals 3-Point Field Goal Attempts 1 four times, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16) 1 four times, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16)Free Throws 4 at Indiana State (11/30/16) 4 at Indiana State (11/30/16)Free Throw Attempts 4 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 4 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Rebounds 6 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 6 at Minnesota (12/11/16)Offensive Rebounds Defensive Rebounds 6 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 6 at Minnesota (12/11/16)Assists 1 six times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 1 six times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Turnovers 1 twice, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16) 1 twice, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16)Blocks Steals 2 at Indiana State (11/30/16) 2 at Indiana State (11/30/16)Minutes 28 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 28 at Minnesota (12/11/16)




ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 16 4 4 1.000 0 0 .000 0 1 .000 0 1 1 1.0 1 0 1 0 0 0 8 4.0

IDAHO NOV. 16 18 0 1 .000 0 1 .000 3 4 .750 0 1 1 1.0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 3.7

at CSUN Nov. 19 12 1 4 .250 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0.8 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 3.3CAL POLY NOV. 23 6 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0.6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.6

ELON NOV. 25 21 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2.2

UIC NOV. 26 5 1 1 1.000 0 0 .000 2 2 1.000 0 0 0 0.4 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 2.4

at Indiana State Nov. 30 21 4 8 .500 0 1 .000 4 4 1.000 0 4 4 0.9 0 0 1 1 0 2 12 3.6at Minnesota Dec. 11 * 28 3 7 .429 0 1 .000 1 2 .500 0 6 6 1.4 3 0 0 1 0 1 7 4.0OLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 1 134 13 25 .520 0 4 .000 10 13 .769 0 13 13 1.4 9 0 6 2 0 3 36 4.0

CAREER STATISTICS


2016-17 9 1 134 14.9 13 25 .520 0 4 .000 10 13 .769 0 13 13 1.4 9 0 6 0.7 2 0.2 0 0.0 3 0.3 36 4.0Career 9 1 134 14.9 13 25 .520 0 4 .000 10 13 .769 0 13 13 1.4 9 0 6 0.7 2 0.2 0 0.0 3 0.3 36 4.0


#10 Eugene GermanFreshman

Guard6-0165

Gary, Ind.21st Century Charter

THE GERMAN FILE• Played eight minutes in his collegiate debut against Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016), scoring two points with one re-bound and one assist. • Prepped at 21st Century Charter School, where he led the State of Indiana in scoring as a junior (32.0 ppg) and a senior (33.5 ppg). • Ranked as the second-best newcomer in the MAC by The Sporting News in its preseason yearbook. • Named to the 2016 Indiana All-Star Team and earned MVP honors in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game in India-napolis with 20 points, six rebounds and two assists. • Named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Senior Small School All-State Team and also named 2015-16 Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune Player of the Year.• Major is undecided.


Points 17 UIC (11/26/16) 17 UIC (11/26/16)Field Goals 7 UIC (11/26/16) 7 UIC (11/26/16)Field Goal Attempts 10 UIC (11/26/16) 10 UIC (11/26/16)3-Point Field Goals 2 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 2 Roosevelt (11/14/16)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Free Throws 3 UIC (11/26/16) 3 UIC (11/26/16)Free Throw Attempts 5 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 5 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Rebounds 4 UIC (11/26/16) 4 UIC (11/26/16)Offensive Rebounds 1 Cal Poly (11/23/16) 1 Cal Poly (11/23/16)Defensive Rebounds 4 UIC (11/26/16) 4 UIC (11/26/16)Assists 1 twice, last: at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 1 twice, last: at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Turnovers 3 UIC (11/26/16) 3 UIC (11/26/16)Blocks Steals 1 twice, last: UIC (11/26/16) 1 twice, last: UIC (11/26/16)Minutes 19 twice, last: UIC (11/26/16) 19 twice, last: UIC (11/26/16)




ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 19 5 7 .714 2 3 .667 2 5 .400 0 1 1 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 14 8.0

IDAHO NOV. 16 5 0 3 .000 0 2 .000 0 2 .000 0 3 3 1.7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5.3


ELON NOV. 25 6 0 2 .000 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 0 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.0

UIC NOV. 26 19 7 10 .700 0 1 .000 3 4 .750 0 4 4 1.6 3 0 0 3 0 1 17 5.0

at Indiana State Nov. 30 7 1 3 .333 0 1 .000 0 2 .000 0 0 0 1.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4.6at Minnesota Dec. 11 Did not playOLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 0 75 15 36 .417 2 11 .182 5 13 .385 1 10 11 1.4 5 0 2 6 0 2 37 4.6

CAREER STATISTICS


2016-17 8 0 75 9.4 15 36 .417 2 11 .182 5 14 .357 1 10 11 1.4 5 0 2 0.3 6 0.8 0 0.0 2 0.3 37 4.6Career 8 0 75 9.4 15 36 .417 2 11 .182 5 14 .357 1 10 11 1.4 5 0 2 0.3 6 0.8 0 0.0 2 0.3 37 4.6


#11 Noah McCartyFreshmanForward

6-7210

Rock Falls, Ill.Sterling Newman

THE McCARTY FILE• Made his collegiate debut against Idaho (Nov. 16), scoring fi ve points with two rebounds in seven minutes of action. Missed the fi rst two games of the season with a neck injury. • Attended Newman Catholic Central in Sterling, Ill., where he averaged 18.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.9 blocks per game as a senior in 2015-16. • Named to the 2016 Associated Press Illinois Class 2A First Team and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) 1A/2A All-State Second Team.• Majoring in Communications.


Points 6 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16) 6 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16)Field Goals 3 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16) 3 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16)Field Goal Attempts 5 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16) 5 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16)3-Point Field Goals 3-Point Field Goal Attempts 1 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 1 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Free Throws 3 Idaho (11/16/16) 3 Idaho (11/16/16)Free Throw Attempts 3 Idaho (11/16/16) 3 Idaho (11/16/16)Rebounds 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Offensive Rebounds 4 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 4 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Defensive Rebounds 3 three times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 3 three times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Assists 1 three times, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16) 1 three times, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16)Turnovers 3 Cal Poly (11/23/16) 3 Cal Poly (11/23/16)Blocks 1 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 1 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Steals 1 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 1 at Minnesota (12/11/16)Minutes 16 Cal Poly (11/23/16) 16 Cal Poly (11/23/16)



INDIANA STATE NOV. 11 Did not play

ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 Did not play

IDAHO NOV. 16 7 1 3 .333 0 0 .000 3 3 1.000 0 2 2 2.0 2 0 1 0 0 0 5 5.0


ELON NOV. 25 13 3 5 .600 0 0 .000 0 1 .000 2 3 5 4.5 3 0 0 0 1 0 6 4.3

UIC NOV. 26 9 0 2 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 1 1 2 4.0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.4





OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 0 76 8 19 .421 0 2 .000 3 4 .750 11 14 25 3.6 18 0 3 5 2 1 19 2.7

CAREER STATISTICS


2016-17 7 0 76 10.9 8 19 .421 0 2 .000 3 4 .750 11 14 25 3.6 18 0 3 0.4 5 0.7 2 0.3 1 0.1 19 2.7Career 7 0 76 10.9 8 19 .421 0 2 .000 3 4 .750 11 14 25 3.6 18 0 3 0.4 5 0.7 2 0.3 1 0.1 19 2.7


#15 Jaylen KeySophomore

Forward6-8220

Milwaukee, Wis.Homestead

THE KEY FILE• Scored a career-high 17 points against Roosevelt (Nov. 14) on a perfect 7-of-7 from the fi eld and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. • Posted his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener against Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016). • Made 26 starts a season ago, the most of any member of last season’s freshman class. • Majoring in Health Promotion. • Left-handed.


Points 17 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 17 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Field Goals 7 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16) 7 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16)Field Goal Attempts 13 Elon (11/25/16) 13 Elon (11/25/16)3-Point Field Goals 1 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16) 1 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 3 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 3 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Free Throws 7 Indiana State (11/11/16) 7 Indiana State (11/11/16)Free Throw Attempts 10 Indiana State (11/11/16) 10 Indiana State (11/11/16)Rebounds 10 Indiana State (11/11/16) 10 twice, last: Indiana State (11/11/16)Offensive Rebounds 4 Indiana State (11/11/16) 4 three times, last: Indiana State (11/11/16)Defensive Rebounds 6 Indiana State (11/11/16) 7 twice, last: Buffalo (2/2/16)Assists 2 twice, last: UIC (11/26/16) 4 Roosevelt (12/22/15)Turnovers 3 three times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 4 at Eastern Michigan (3/2/16)Blocks 1 four times, last: UIC (11/26/16) 2 four times, last: at Ball State (2/19/16)Steals 1 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 3 at Toledo (1/12/16)Minutes 37 Elon (11/25/16) 37 Elon (11/25/16)




ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 * 18 7 7 1.000 0 0 .000 3 3 1.000 1 5 6 8.0 1 0 1 2 0 1 17 15.0

IDAHO NOV. 16 * 25 2 5 .400 0 0 .000 2 4 .500 2 4 6 7.3 3 0 0 3 1 0 6 12.0

at CSUN Nov. 19 * 29 5 10 .500 1 3 .333 3 4 .750 3 5 8 7.5 3 0 0 2 1 0 14 12.5CAL POLY NOV. 23 * 23 3 9 .333 0 1 .000 1 2 .500 1 4 5 7.0 0 0 1 3 0 0 7 11.4

ELON NOV. 25 * 37 7 13 .538 1 2 .500 0 0 .000 3 3 6 6.8 2 0 2 2 0 0 15 12.0

UIC NOV. 26 * 26 6 9 .667 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 3 2 5 6.6 3 0 2 0 1 0 12 12.0

at Indiana State Nov. 30 * 16 2 5 .400 0 1 .000 1 2 .500 3 3 6 6.5 3 0 1 3 0 1 5 11.1at Minnesota Dec. 11 * 23 3 10 .300 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 1 2 3 6.1 2 0 0 1 0 0 6 10.6OLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 9 219 38 77 .494 2 7 .286 17 25 .680 21 34 55 6.1 18 0 8 16 4 2 95 10.6

CAREER STATISTICS


2015-16 34 26 626 18.4 76 169 .450 0 2 .000 37 56 .661 41 82 123 3.6 88 2 21 0.6 37 1.1 15 0.4 18 0.5 189 5.62016-17 9 9 219 24.3 38 77 .494 2 7 .286 17 25 .680 21 34 55 6.1 18 0 8 0.9 16 1.8 4 0.4 2 0.2 95 10.6Career 43 35 845 19.7 114 246 .463 2 9 .222 54 81 .667 62 116 178 4.1 106 2 29 0.7 53 1.2 19 0.4 20 0.5 284 6.6

KEY IN THE MAC RANKINGS

ALL RANK CONF. RANK

GAMES ONLY

Rebounds Per Game 6.1 13th n/a n/aOffensive Rebounds 2.3 11th n/a n/a


#21 Sean DamaskaGraduate Student

Center6-7252

Milton, Ga.Blessed Trinity

Indiana

THE DAMASKA FILE• Saw his fi rst career action against Roosevelt (Nov. 14), scoring seven points with four rebounds in nine minutes of action. • Comes to NIU from Indiana, where he was a four-year member of the football team, appearing in 13 games as a tight end and special teamer in 2015.• Had never played football prior to college.• Four-year basketball letterwinner in high school at Blessed Trinity Catholic in Roswell, Ga., averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game as a senior, earning all-region honors. • Earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University is Political Science with a minor in Business. Working on his master’s degree in Sport Management.


Points 7 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 7 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Field Goals 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Field Goal Attempts 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16)3-Point Field Goals 3-Point Field Goal Attempts Free Throws 1 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 1 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16)Free Throw Attempts 2 at Indiana State (11/30/16) 2 at Indiana State (11/30/16)Rebounds 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Offensive Rebounds 1 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 1 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Defensive Rebounds 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Assists 1 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 1 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Turnovers Blocks Steals Minutes 9 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 9 Roosevelt (11/14/16)




ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 9 3 4 .750 0 0 .000 1 1 1.000 1 3 4 4.0 2 0 1 0 0 0 7 7.0

IDAHO NOV. 16 Did not play

at CSUN Nov. 19 Did not playCAL POLY NOV. 23 Did not play


UIC NOV. 26 1 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 0 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.5

at Indiana State Nov. 30 1 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 1 2 .500 0 1 1 1.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2.7at Minnesota Dec. 11 Did not playOLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 0 11 3 4 .750 0 0 .000 2 3 .667 1 4 5 1.7 2 0 1 0 0 0 8 2.7

CAREER STATISTICS


2016-17 3 0 11 3.7 3 4 .750 0 0 .000 2 3 .667 1 4 5 1.7 2 0 1 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 8 2.7Career 3 0 11 3.7 3 4 .750 0 0 .000 2 3 .667 1 4 5 1.7 2 0 1 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 8 2.7


#23 Aaric ArmsteadSeniorGuard

6-5195

Chicago, IllLa Jolla Prep (Calif.)

THE ARMSTEAD FILE• Has played in a team-high 101 career games, with 91 starts, and has scored in double fi gures 52 times. • Has 113 career steals, ranking 10th on NIU’s career steals list. • Became NIU’s 30th 1,000-point scorer with his nine points at Indiana State (Nov. 30), has 1,008 career points, tied for 29th all-time in school history.• Named to the 2015-16 MAC All-Defensive Team. • One of two Huskies (along with graduated senior Travon Baker) to start all 34 games a season ago. • Ranked 16th in the MAC in rebounding in 2015-16, pulling down 5.7 boards per contest. • Recorded four double-doubles a season ago, tied for 12th-most in the MAC.• Majoring in General Studies.


Points 24 Elon (11/25/16) 24 Elon (11/25/16)Field Goals 8 Elon (11/25/16) 8 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16)Field Goal Attempts 19 Elon (11/25/16) 19 Elon (11/25/16)3-Point Field Goals 2 three times, last: UIC (11/26/16) 4 three times, last: Ball State (3/4/16)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 7 Elon (11/25/16) 8 at Miami (1/30/16)Free Throws 6 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16) 9 at Idaho (11/28/15)Free Throw Attempts 8 Cal Poly (11/23/16) 13 Kent State (1/15/14)Rebounds 16 Elon (11/25/16) 16 Elon (11/25/16)Offensive Rebounds 8 Elon (11/25/16) 8 Elon (11/25/16)Defensive Rebounds 8 Elon (11/25/16) 9 twice, last: Ohio (1/6/16)Assists 4 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 4 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16)Turnovers 3 three times, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 5 twice, last: vs. Eastern Mich. (3/12/14)Blocks 3 at Indiana State (11/30/16) 3 at Indiana State (11/30/16)Steals 2 three times, last: Elon (11/25/16) 4 four times, last: at Missouri (12/4/15)Minutes 43 Elon (11/25/16) 44 twice, last: Florida International (12/19/15)




ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 * 22 3 9 .333 2 6 .333 0 0 .000 1 3 4 3.5 0 0 0 2 1 2 8 8.0

IDAHO NOV. 16 * 22 0 1 .000 0 1 .000 4 6 .667 1 4 5 4.0 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 6.7

at CSUN Nov. 19 * 32 2 15 .133 1 6 .167 2 2 1.000 2 5 7 4.8 2 0 4 1 0 0 7 6.8CAL POLY NOV. 23 * 30 2 5 .400 1 1 1.000 6 8 .750 4 2 6 5.0 2 0 3 3 1 2 11 7.6

ELON NOV. 25 * 43 8 19 .421 2 7 .286 6 6 1.000 8 8 16 6.8 1 0 1 2 0 2 24 10.3

UIC NOV. 26 * 37 7 11 .636 2 3 .667 5 6 .833 3 4 7 6.9 3 0 1 3 1 0 21 11.9

at Indiana State Nov. 30 * 32 2 6 .333 0 2 .000 5 6 .833 0 6 6 6.8 2 0 1 3 3 1 9 11.5at Minnesota Dec. 11 * 23 0 5 .000 0 1 .000 3 4 .750 2 2 4 6.4 3 0 2 1 0 1 3 10.6OLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 9 278 27 81 .333 8 28 .286 33 42 .786 22 36 58 6.4 20 0 14 15 8 9 95 10.6

CAREER STATISTICS


2013-14 30 21 766 25.5 82 211 .389 16 61 .262 52 78 .667 45 78 123 4.1 58 1 13 0.4 51 1.7 12 0.4 30 1.0 232 7.72014-15 28 27 807 28.8 100 244 .410 21 61 .344 90 128 .703 39 92 131 4.7 51 1 18 0.6 47 1.7 10 0.4 40 1.4 311 11.12015-16 34 34 983 28.9 120 321 .374 41 132 .311 89 133 .669 56 139 195 5.7 76 0 41 1.2 64 1.9 17 0.5 34 1.0 370 10.92016-17 9 9 278 30.9 27 81 .333 8 28 .286 33 42 .786 22 36 58 6.4 20 0 14 1.6 15 1.7 8 0.9 9 1.0 95 10.6Career 101 91 2834 28.1 329 857 .384 86 282 .305 264 381 .693 162 345 507 5.0 205 2 86 0.9 177 1.8 47 0.5 113 1.1 1008 10.0

ARMSTEAD IN THE MAC RANKINGS

ALL RANK CONF. RANK

GAMES ONLY

Rebounds Per Game 6.4 11th n/a n/aFree Throw Percentage .786 12th n/a n/aBlocks Per Game 0.8 T-15th n/a n/aOffensive Rebounds 2.4 9th n/a n/aMinutes Per Game 30.9 10th n/a n/a


#30 Nick WagnerFreshman

Guard6-3190

Galesville, Wis.Gale-Ettrick-Trempea

THE WAGNER FILE• Attended Gale-Ettrick-Trempea High School in Galesville, Wis., where he averaged 21.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a senior.• Named to the Wisconsin Association Press All-State Third Team and the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division 3 All-State Team in 2015-16. • Major in undecided.


Points Field Goals Field Goal Attempts 3-Point Field Goals 3-Point Field Goal Attempts Free Throws Free Throw Attempts Rebounds Offensive Rebounds Defensive Rebounds Assists Turnovers Blocks Steals Minutes








UIC NOV. 26 Did not play

at Indiana State Nov. 30 Did not playat Minnesota Dec. 11 Did not playOLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals

CAREER STATISTICS


2016-17Career


#31 Austin PaugaSophomore

Guard6-6210

Naperville, Ill.IMG Academy

THE PAUGA FILE• Has not committed a turnover in 118 minutes of action this season. • Missed 12 games last season due to two diff erent injuries, missing seven between Nov. 28-Dec. 29 as well as the fi nal fi ve games of the season.• Shot 45.2 percent from three-point range a season ago (14-of-31)• Scored 15 points on fi ve three-pointers in his collegiate debut against Cal State Northridge (Nov. 13, 2015). • Majoring in Mechanical Engineering.


Points 9 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 15 Cal State Northridge (11/13/15)Field Goals 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 5 Cal State Northridge (11/13/15)Field Goal Attempts 8 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 8 Roosevelt (11/14/16)3-Point Field Goals 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 5 Cal State Northridge (11/13/15)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 7 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 7 twice, last: Roosevelt (11/14/16)Free Throws 1 Idaho (11/16/16) 1 twice, last: Idaho (11/16/16)Free Throw Attempts 2 Idaho (11/16/16) 2 twice, last: Idaho (11/16/16)Rebounds 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 4 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Offensive Rebounds 2 Elon (11/25/16) 2 Elon (11/25/16)Defensive Rebounds 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Assists 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16)Turnovers 2 twice, last: Buffalo (2/2/16)Blocks 1 twice, last: Buffalo (2/2/16)Steals 2 twice, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16) 4 Eureka (11/21/15)Minutes 20 twice, last: Cal Poly (11/23/16) 24 Cal State Northridge (11/13/15)




ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 20 3 8 .375 3 7 .429 0 0 .000 1 3 4 3.5 0 0 3 0 0 1 9 4.5

IDAHO NOV. 16 12 0 3 .000 0 2 .000 1 2 .500 1 0 1 2.7 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3.3


ELON NOV. 25 19 1 2 .500 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 2 1 3 1.8 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 3.0

UIC NOV. 26 11 1 1 1.000 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 0 0 0 1.6 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 2.9





OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 0 118 7 21 .333 5 17 .294 1 2 .500 5 6 11 1.2 7 0 7 0 0 6 20 2.2

CAREER STATISTICS


2015-16 19 0 177 9.3 20 40 .500 14 31 .452 1 2 .500 4 7 11 0.6 10 0 7 0.4 7 0.4 2 0.1 10 0.5 55 2.92016-17 9 0 118 13.1 7 21 .333 5 17 .294 1 2 .500 5 6 11 1.2 7 0 7 0.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 6 0.7 20 2.2Career 28 0 295 10.5 27 61 .443 19 48 .396 2 4 .500 9 13 22 0.8 17 0 14 0.5 7 0.3 2 0.1 16 0.6 75 2.7


#33 Jon SiuSophomore

Guard6-5195

Hong KongMiddlesex School

CAREER STATISTICS


2015-16 Did not see game action2016-17Career

THE SIU FILE• Did not see game action last season.• Came to NIU from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H., where he spent a postgraduate season after attending Middlesex School in Concord, Mass. • Averaged 20 points and six rebounds per game in his fi nal season at Middlesex, where he fi nished as the school record-holder for three-point fi eld goals made. • Majoring in Business Administration.


Points Field Goals Field Goal Attempts 3-Point Field Goals 3-Point Field Goal Attempts Free Throws Free Throw Attempts Rebounds Offensive Rebounds Defensive Rebounds Assists Turnovers Blocks

Steals Minutes








UIC NOV. 26 Did not play

at Indiana State Nov. 30 Did not playat Minnesota Dec. 11 Did not playOLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals


#34 Marin MaricSeniorCenter

6-11250

Split, CroatiaLa Lumiere School

THE MARIC FILE• Ranks ninth in NIU history with 58 career blocked shots. • Scored a career-best 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting in the season opener against Indiana State (Nov. 11, 2016). • Preseason All-MAC West selection and a Third Team All-MAC honoree in 2015-16. • Named the fi fth-best player in the MAC by The Sporting News in its preseason yearbook.• Ranked 24th in the MAC in scoring a season ago, averaging 11.9 points per game, and fi fth in rebounding, pulling down 8.4 boards per game. • Recorded 14 double-doubles last season, tied for the third-most in the MAC. • Shot 48.4 percent from the fi eld a season ago to rank 13th in the conference and also ranked fi fth in the league with 1.2 blocks per contest. • Has represented his native Croatia in the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championships (2014) and the FIFA Under-19 World Championships (2013). • Majoring in General Studies.


Points 25 Indiana State (11/11/16) 25 Indiana State (11/11/16)Field Goals 11 Indiana State (11/11/16) 11 Indiana State (11/11/16)Field Goal Attempts 14 Indiana State (11/11/16) 17 Akron (2/13/16)3-Point Field Goals 2 Indiana State (11/11/16) 2 three times, last: Indiana State (11/11/16)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 4 Indiana State (11/11/16) 4 Indiana State (11/11/16)Free Throws 7 twice, last: UIC (11/26/16) 11 Buffalo (2/2/16)Free Throw Attempts 14 Elon (11/25/16) 14 Elon (11/25/16)Rebounds 10 Elon (11/25/16) 14 twice, last: Ohio (1/6/16)Offensive Rebounds 6 at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 7 Florida International (12/19/15)Defensive Rebounds 7 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 11 at Toledo (1/12/16)Assists 3 Roosevelt (11/14/16) 4 at UIC (12/29/15)Turnovers 4 Cal Poly (11/23/16) 5 at Akron (1/26/16)Blocks 3 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 6 Western MIchigan (2/27/16)Steals 3 at Minnesota (12/11/16) 3 twice, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16)Minutes 36 Elon (11/25/16) 36 Elon (11/25/16)




ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 * 18 5 8 .625 0 0 .000 0 1 .000 0 1 1 4.0 1 0 3 1 2 0 10 17.5

IDAHO NOV. 16 * 22 4 4 1.000 1 1 1.000 2 2 1.000 1 3 4 4.0 3 0 0 3 0 0 11 15.3

at CSUN Nov. 19 * 24 5 13 .385 0 2 .000 4 5 .800 6 1 7 4.8 4 0 0 3 1 1 14 15.0CAL POLY NOV. 23 * 24 5 8 .625 0 0 .000 4 4 1.000 0 3 3 4.4 4 0 0 4 0 0 14 14.8

ELON NOV. 25 * 36 8 13 .615 0 1 .000 7 14 .500 3 7 10 5.3 3 0 1 3 0 0 23 16.2

UIC NOV. 26 * 23 4 12 .333 1 2 .500 7 8 .875 2 2 4 5.1 3 0 2 3 2 0 16 16.1

at Indiana State Nov. 30 * 30 1 7 .143 0 1 .000 2 3 .667 1 7 8 5.5 2 0 2 2 1 1 4 14.6at Minnesota Dec. 11 * 27 4 9 .444 0 1 .000 1 1 1.000 1 4 5 5.4 5 1 1 3 3 3 9 14.0OLIVET NAZARENE DEC. 14




OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 9 239 47 88 .534 4 12 .333 28 40 .700 16 33 49 5.4 29 1 9 25 10 5 126 14.0

CAREER STATISTICS


2013-14 6 0 53 8.8 8 12 .667 0 0 .000 2 4 .500 10 5 15 2.5 4 0 2 0.3 5 0.8 0 0.0 1 0.2 18 3.02014-15 26 7 377 14.5 47 82 .573 0 2 .000 34 45 .756 45 58 103 4.0 51 0 14 0.5 31 1.2 10 0.4 7 0.3 128 4.92015-16 32 31 841 26.3 135 279 .484 7 16 .438 105 156 .673 94 174 268 8.4 76 2 30 0.9 61 1.9 38 1.2 23 0.7 382 11.92016-17 9 9 239 26.6 47 88 .534 4 12 .333 28 40 .700 16 33 49 5.4 29 1 9 1.0 25 2.8 10 1.1 5 0.6 126 14.0Career 73 47 1510 20.7 237 461 .514 11 30 .367 169 245 .690 165 270 435 6.0 160 3 55 0.8 122 1.7 58 0.8 36 0.5 654 9.0

MARIC IN THE MAC RANKINGS

ALL RANK CONF. RANK

GAMES ONLY

Points Per Game 14.0 18th n/a n/aRebounds Per Game 5.4 20th n/a n/aField Goal Percentage .534 12th n/a n/aBlocks Per Game 1.1 T-6th n/a n/a


#42 Levi BradleySophomore

Wing6-7200

Milwaukee, Wis.Pius XI

THE BRADLEY FILE• Shot a team-best 77.1 percent (37-of-48) from the free-throw line a season ago. • Has two career double-doubles, against Judson on Jan. 2 , 2016 (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Western Michigan in the First Round of the MAC Tournament on March 7, 2016 (13 points, 12 rebounds).• Scored in double fi gures 10 times last season, including in each of the fi nal four games of the year. • Plans to major in Anthropology. • Left-handed.


Points 14 Indiana State (11/11/16) 19 Judson (1/2/16)Field Goals 5 Idaho (11/16/16) 6 twice, last: Central Michigan (1/19/16)Field Goal Attempts 10 UIC (11/26/16) 10 three times, last: UIC (11/26/16)3-Point Field Goals 2 Indiana State (11/11/16) 2 six times, last: Indiana State (11/11/16)3-Point Field Goal Attempts 4 Indiana State (11/11/16) 5 twice, last: vs. Ohio (3/10/16)Free Throws 6 Indiana State (11/11/16) 7 Judson (1/2/16)Free Throw Attempts 6 Indiana State (11/11/16) 8 Judson (1/2/16)Rebounds 7 Indiana State (11/11/16) 12 Western Michigan (3/7/16)Offensive Rebounds 2 twice, last: Roosevelt (11/14/16) 5 Judson (1/2/16)Defensive Rebounds 5 Indiana State (11/11/16) 10 Western Michigan (3/7/16)Assists 1 three times, last: at Minnesota (12/11/16) 3 vs. Ohio (3/10/16)Turnovers 2 twice, last: at Indiana State (11/30/16) 3 Eastern Michigan (1/9/16)Blocks 1 twice, last: at Cal State Northridge (11/19/16) 2 Roosevelt (12/22/15)Steals 2 Elon (11/25/16) 2 twice, last: Elon (11/25/16)Minutes 32 Indiana State (11/11/16) 32 Indiana State (11/11/16)



INDIANA STATE NOV. 11 32 3 7 .429 2 4 .500 6 6 1.000 2 5 7 7.0 1 0 0 1 0 1 14 14.0

ROOSEVELT NOV. 14 21 3 7 .429 0 3 .000 1 1 1.000 2 3 5 6.0 2 0 0 1 1 1 7 10.5

IDAHO NOV. 16 24 5 8 .625 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 0 1 1 4.3 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 10.3

at CSUN Nov. 19 19 2 5 .400 1 1 1.000 3 4 .750 1 0 1 3.5 3 0 0 0 1 0 8 9.8CAL POLY NOV. 23 12 2 6 .333 0 1 .000 0 0 .000 1 0 1 3.0 4 0 1 1 0 0 4 8.6

ELON NOV. 25 14 1 5 .200 0 2 .000 0 0 .000 0 1 1 2.7 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 7.5

UIC NOV. 26 22 3 10 .300 0 1 .000 2 2 1.000 0 1 1 2.4 2 0 0 2 0 0 8 7.6





OHIO* JAN. 21

KENT STATE* JAN. 24




TOLEDO* FEB. 18



Totals 0 178 21 55 .382 3 15 .200 12 13 .923 6 15 21 2.3 17 0 3 8 2 5 57 6.3

CAREER STATISTICS


2015-16 34 1 544 16.0 85 173 .491 21 51 .412 37 48 .771 38 82 120 3.5 75 1 15 0.4 22 0.6 11 0.3 13 0.4 228 6.72016-17 9 0 178 19.8 21 55 .382 3 15 .200 12 13 .923 6 15 21 2.3 17 0 3 0.3 8 0.9 2 0.2 5 0.6 57 6.3Career 43 1 722 16.8 106 228 .465 24 66 .364 49 61 .803 44 97 141 3.3 92 1 18 0.4 30 0.7 13 0.3 18 0.4 285 6.6


#32 Andrew ZelisSeniorCenter

7-0255

Wheaton, Ill.Kaskaskia College

THE ZELIS FILE• Will miss the 2016-17 season after suff ering an ACL injury in the fi rst practice of the season. • Appeared in 27 games a season ago, averaging 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. • Played a season-high 24 minutes in the MAC Tournament First Round against Western Michigan (March 7, 2016). • Came to NIU from Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Ill., after beginning his collegiate career at Stetson in 2013-14, where he redshirted. • Majoring in Economics.


Points 12 Roosevelt (12/22/15)Field Goals 6 Roosevelt (12/22/15)Field Goal Attempts 7 Roosevelt (12/22/15)3-Point Field Goals n/a3-Point Field Goal Attempts n/aFree Throws 3 Eureka (11/21/15)Free Throw Attempts 4 Eureka (11/21/15)Rebounds 7 Roosevelt (12/22/15)Offensive Rebounds 3 Roosevelt (12/22/15)Defensive Rebounds 6 Indiana Northwest (11/25/15)Assists 1 twice, last: at Eastern Michigan (3/2/16)Turnovers 2 Judson (1/2/16)Blocks 2 Western Michigan (3/7/16)Steals 1 twice, last: at Kent State (2/9/16)Minutes 24 Western Michigan (3/7/16)

CAREER STATISTICS


2015-16 27 0 198 7.3 24 45 .533 0 0 .000 6 17 .353 14 45 59 2.2 40 0 2 0.1 8 0.3 12 0.4 2 0.1 54 2.02016-17Career 27 0 198 7.3 24 45 .533 0 0 .000 6 17 .353 14 45 59 2.2 40 0 2 0.1 8 0.3 12 0.4 2 0.1 54 2.0

#4 Lacey JamesSophomore

Forward6-9230

Grand Rapids, Mich.Wayland Union

Rider

THE JAMES FILE• Will sit out the 2016-17 season and have three seasons of eligibility remaining beginning next season. • Comes to NIU following one season at Rider, where he appeared in 12 games last season.• Averaged 1.0 points and 1.1 rebounds per game in limited action with the Broncs. • Majoring in Communications.

2016-17 SEASON BESTS CAREER BESTS (ALL AT RIDER)

Points 6 at Morgan State (12/23/15)Field Goals 3 at Morgan State (12/23/15)Field Goal Attempts 5 at Morgan State (12/23/15)3-Point Field Goals n/a3-Point Field Goal Attempts n/aFree Throws 4 vs. Houston Baptist (11/25/15)Free Throw Attempts 6 vs. Houston Baptist (11/25/15)Rebounds 5 at Rhode Island (11/29/15)Offensive Rebounds 4 vs. Houston Baptist (11/25/15)Defensive Rebounds 4 at Rhode Island (11/29/15)Assists n/aTurnovers 1 twice, last: at Morgan State (12/23/15)Blocks 1 three times, last: at Morgan State (12/23/15)Steals 1 twice, last: at Quinnipiac (1/4/16)Minutes 16 at Morgan State (12/23/15)

CAREER STATISTICS


2015-16 12 0 60 5.0 4 14 .286 0 0 .000 4 11 .365 8 5 13 1.1 10 0 0 0.0 2 0.2 3 0.3 2 0.2 12 1.02016-17Career 12 0 60 5.0 4 14 .286 0 0 .000 4 11 .365 8 5 13 1.1 10 0 0 0.0 2 0.2 3 0.3 2 0.2 12 1.0


Date Opponent Result Attendance Top Scorer Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks

Nov. 11 Indiana State W, 80-78 (ot) 1,565 Maric (25) Key (10) Porter (4) Highsmith (2) Armstead (2)

Porter (2)

Nov. 14 Roosevelt W, 99-55 756 Key (17) Key (6) Porter (4) Armstead (2) Maric (2)

Wilson (4) Wilson (2)

Nov. 16 Idaho W, 63-49 1,430 Porter (12) Key (6) Wilson (2) Highsmith (3) Key (1)

Nov. 19 at Cal State Northridge L, 84-82 886 Porter (19) Key (8) Armstead (4) Porter (3) four tied at (1)Nov. 23 Cal Poly L, 68-64 844 Maric (14) Armstead (6) Porter (4) Armstead (2) Armstead (1)

Nov. 25 Elon L, 85-80 (2ot) 712 Armstead (24) Armstead (16) Porter (4) Armstead (2) McCarty (1)

Bradley (2) Porter (1)

Nov. 26 UIC W, 92-81 1,398 Armstead (21) Armstead (7) Porter (4) Pauga (2) Maric (2)

Nov. 30 at Indiana State L, 62-53 3,730 Thomas (12) Maric (8) Maric (2) Highsmith (2) Armstead (3) Thomas (2)Dec. 11 at Minnesota L, 77-57 8,625 Wilson (19) Thomas (6) Armstead (2) Maric (3) Maric (3) Wilson (2)Dec. 14 Olivet Nazarene

Dec. 17 at Florida InternationalDec. 20 at South FloridaDec. 31 Illinois-Springfi eld

Jan. 3 at Miami (Ohio)*Jan. 7 Central Michigan*

Jan. 10 at Kent State*Jan. 14 at Bowling Green*Jan. 17 Miami (Ohio)*

Jan. 21 Ohio*

Jan. 24 Kent State*

Jan. 28 at Toledo*Jan. 31 Akron*

Feb. 4 Eastern Michigan*

Feb. 7 at Buff alo*Feb. 11 at Western Michigan*Feb. 14 Ball State*

Feb. 18 Toledo*

Feb. 21 at Central Michigan*Feb. 25 at Eastern Michigan*Feb. 28 Western Michigan*

Mar. 3 at Ball State

* denotes Mid-American Conference games

Record Overall Home Away Neutral

All Games 4-5 4-2 0-3 Conference Games Non-Conference Games 4-5 4-2 0-3

2016-17: RESULTS


2016-17: BOX SCORES

DEKALB, Ill. – With the game tied and just 4.3 seconds on the clock in overtime, sophomore Laytwan Porter stepped to the free-throw line and calmly made a pair of free throws to give the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team an 80-78 victory over Indiana State on Friday night at the NIU Convocation Center.

Senior Marin Maric fi nished with a career-best 25 on 11-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds.

NIU led by as much as seven, 70-63, in the fi nal minute of regu-lation, but the Huskies went just 2-of-6 from the free-throw line in the fi nal 20 seconds of the contest as Indiana State cut into the NIU lead. With the lead at a pair, 71-69, NIU split a pair of free throws with seven seconds left to push the advantage to three.

Brenton Scott raced the length of the fl oor and buried a triple for the Sycamores with 1.6 seconds to play, tying the game at 72 and sending it to overtime.

Scott knocked down a triple on the opening possession of the overtime, but it was the only fi eld goal Indiana State would score in the extra session. Trailing by a pair, 78-76, with less than a minute left, senior Aaric Armstead threw down a thunderous dunk off an off ensive rebound to pull the Huskies even with 46 seconds to play.

Out of a timeout, Jordan Barnes went baseline for Indiana State but Porter came up with a block and the Huskies grabbed the rebound. NIU came up the fl oor and let the fi nal seconds play out, with Porter getting a step and driving to the basket, where he was fouled.

After the sophomore from Rockford, Ill., sank his two free throws, Indiana State raced up the fl oor looking for another buzzer-beater, but they couldn’t get a shot off in time as the Huskies hung on to win the opener.

In the fi rst half, NIU built a lead as big as a dozen, 29-17, but Indiana State stayed close and cut the Huskie advantage to just seven, 36-29, at the intermission.

Indiana State scored the fi rst six points out of the intermission to cut the NIU lead to just one, 36-35. The Sycamores took their fi rst lead since the opening fi ve minutes of the game on a layup by Scott with 13:50 to play in the second half, 41-40.

Trailing by three, Maric knocked down a triple just past the midway point of the second half to pull the Huskies back even, 47-47. The trifecta sparked a 7-0 run by Maric as the Huskies took a 51-47 lead with 7:19 to play in regulation.

A triple by Van Scoyc cut the NIU lead back to just one, 53-52, but the Huskies answered with a 7-2 burst to take a 60-54 lead with 4:25 left in the half.

GAME 1 (OVERTIME)GAME 1 (OVERTIME)

NIU: 80

Indiana State: 78

November 11, 2016 • NIU Convocation Center

DeKalb, Ill.

No. NIU FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

15 Key, J. 3-9 0-0 7-10 4-6 10 1 13 1 0 1 0 2234 Maric, M. 11-14 2-4 1-2 2-5 7 4 25 0 3 1 0 352 Porter, L. 2-9 0-2 3-4 0-5 5 3 7 4 1 1 2 313 Highsmith, D. 1-5 0-1 3-8 1-0 1 2 5 1 2 0 2 2123 Armstead, A. 3-10 0-1 2-4 1-2 3 3 8 1 0 2 0 370 Wilson, M. 2-5 0-3 2-3 0-4 4 1 6 1 3 0 1 195 Thomas, J. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 710 German, E. 1-3 0-1 0-0 0-1 1 0 2 1 2 0 0 831 Pauga, A. 0-2 0-2 0-0 1-2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1342 Bradley, L. 3-7 2-4 6-6 2-5 7 1 14 0 1 0 1 32TEAM 3-3 6TOTALS 26-64 4-18 24-37 14-34 48 17 80 10 12 5 6 225TOTAL FG%: 1st: 14-33 .424 2nd: 10-26 .385 OT: 2-5 .400 Game: 26-64 .4063-PT FG%: 1st: 1-10 .100 2nd: 3-6 .500 OT: 0-2 .000 Game: 4-18 .222FT%: 1st: 7-11 .636 2nd: 13-20 .650 OT: 4-6 .667 Game: 24-37 .649

No. Indiana State FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

30 Van Scyoc, M. 5-9 4-7 0-0 1-2 3 2 14 0 1 0 0 3334 Murphy, B. 1-5 0-0 4-4 3-3 6 4 6 1 1 3 0 250 Clemons, E. 1-4 0-0 3-6 3-6 9 2 5 4 1 0 2 374 Scott, B. 10-25 3-14 5-6 1-5 6 4 28 4 2 1 2 3432 Paige, L. 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-2 2 3 0 1 1 0 1 152 Barnes, J. 3-9 2-6 6-6 1-4 5 4 14 1 0 0 1 305 Kessinger, B. 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 212 Bunschoten, N. 2-8 1-6 0-0 0-5 5 3 5 2 1 0 0 1713 Franklin, D. 0-6 0-2 0-0 1-0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 1441 Rickman, E. 2-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 742 Bell, T.J. 1-1 0-0 0-0 1-0 1 4 2 0 0 0 1 11TEAM 2-3 5 1TOTALS 25-72 10-36 18-22 13-30 43 28 78 14 10 4 7 225TOTAL FG%: 1st: 11-35 .314 2nd: 13-32 .406 OT: 1-5 .200 Game: 25-72 .3473-PT FG%: 1st: 4-16 .250 2nd: 5-17 .294 OT: 1-3 .333 Game: 10-36 .278FT%: 1st: 3-4 .750 2nd: 12-14 .857 OT: 3-4 .750 Game: 18-22 .818

Technical Fouls: noneOfficials: Tim Stewart, Bryan Anslinger, Brian McAnallyAttendance: 1,565Score by Half

Indiana State .....................................29-43-6 78NIU ........................................................36-36-8 80

DEKALB, Ill. – Sophomore Jaylen Key scored a career-high 17 points as the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team took care of Roosevelt University, 99-55, on Monday night at the NIU Convocation Center.

Key led four Huskies in double fi gures as freshman Eugene German recorded his fi rst career double-fi gure game with 14 points, sophomore Laytwan Porter added 12 points and senior Marin Maric added 10 points.

The Huskies recorded 20 assists on 40 made fi eld goals with fi ve diff erent players recording at least three assists (Dontel Highsmith, Maric, Austin Pauga, Porter and Marshawn Wilson). NIU shot 60.6 percent (40-of-66) from the fi eld in the contest, including 40.7 percent (11-of-27) from three-point range.

NIU held a 49-16 advantage in the paint in the contest and also outscored Roosevelt off turnovers, 25-6.

Key got the Huskies started off ensively, scoring seven of NIU’s fi rst nine points as NIU opened the game with a quick 11-2 lead in the opening three-and-a-half minutes of the contest.

With NIU leading 20-11, the Huskies used an 11-0 burst to push the lead to 20. Sophomore Marshawn Wilson opened the run with a basket, Germany added a triple, Key made a jumper, sophomore Levi Bradley had an old-fashioned three-point play and German fi nished the run with a free throw as the Huskies took a 31-11 lead with just under nine minutes to play in the opening half.

The NIU lead ballooned to 29 at the intermission, 55-26, as the Huskies shot 67.6 percent (23-of-34) from the fi eld, including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three, in the opening 20 minutes.

After the break, the Huskie advantage grew to as much as 48 just before the midway point of the half, 80-32, as the Huskies continued to keep the pressure on Roosevelt.

All 11 players that saw action for the Huskies scored, including seven points in just nine minutes from graduate student Sean Damaska.

Kyle Bumbalough led Roosevelt in scoring with 11 points; Zack Harris added 10 for the Lakers.

GAME 2GAME 2

NIU: 99

Roosevelt: 55


DeKalb, Ill.


15 Key, J. 7-7 0-0 3-3 1-5 6 1 17 1 2 0 1 1834 Maric, M. 5-8 0-0 0-1 0-1 1 1 10 3 1 2 0 182 Porter, L. 4-6 4-6 0-0 1-2 3 1 12 4 1 0 1 173 Highsmith, D. 2-4 0-1 0-1 2-0 2 2 4 3 0 0 1 1823 Armstead, A. 3-9 2-6 0-0 1-3 4 0 8 0 2 1 2 220 Wilson, M. 1-2 0-1 1-3 1-2 3 1 3 4 1 0 2 225 Thomas, J. 4-4 0-0 0-1 0-1 1 1 8 1 0 0 0 1610 German, E. 5-7 2-3 2-5 0-1 1 1 14 0 0 0 1 1921 Damaska, S. 3-4 0-0 1-1 1-3 4 2 7 1 0 0 0 931 Pauga, A. 3-8 3-7 0-0 1-3 4 0 9 3 0 0 1 2042 Bradley, L. 3-7 0-3 1-1 2-3 5 2 7 0 1 1 1 21TEAM 1-4 5 TOTALS 40-66 11-27 8-16 11-28 39 12 99 20 8 4 10 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 23-34 .676 2nd: 17-32 .531 Game: 40-66 .6063-PT FG%: 1st: 6-14 .429 2nd: 5-13 .385 Game: 11-27 .407FT%: 1st: 3-5 .600 2nd: 5-11 .455 Game: 8-16 .500

No. Roosevelt FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

22 Dillingham, J. 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-3 3 4 0 1 3 0 0 1430 Harris, Z. 4-9 2-4 0-0 0-2 2 2 10 0 1 0 0 192 Ryan, K. 3-7 2-5 0-0 0-1 1 1 8 3 1 0 0 214 Ludwig, J. 1-2 0-1 0-0 0-1 1 2 2 1 4 0 2 1713 Bumbalough, K. 4-7 2-4 1-1 0-1 1 1 11 1 1 0 0 251 Markus, J. 1-2 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 3 2 1 0 0 143 Day, K. 2-4 1-3 0-0 0-2 2 1 5 0 1 0 0 1411 Hughes, C. 4-8 1-3 0-1 2-2 4 1 9 2 2 0 0 1312 Catchings, P. 0-2 0-2 0-0 1-2 3 2 0 1 2 0 0 1221 Raiford Jr., A. 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-3 3 0 0 0 2 1 1 1223 Cutts, T. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 424 Alexander, A. 1-3 0-0 0-0 1-4 5 3 2 0 1 0 0 1833 Asquini, J. 1-5 1-5 2-2 0-0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 1135 Zalewski, D. 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6TEAM 1-2 3 1TOTALS 21-52 10-29 3-5 5-23 28 19 55 12 21 1 3 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 10-26 .385 2nd: 11-26 .423 Game: 21-52 .4043-PT FG%: 1st: 6-15 .400 2nd: 4-14 .286 Game: 10-29 .345FT%: 1st: 0-0 .000 2nd: 3-5 .600 Game: 3-5 .600

Technical Fouls: noneOfficials: Dan Dorian, Dave Cronin, Tyler KumpfAttendance: 756Score by Half

Roosevelt ............................................26-29 55NIU ........................................................55-44 99

DEKALB, Ill. – After being tied at the half, the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team shot 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the fi eld in the second half to pull out a 63-49 victory over Idaho on Wednesday night at the NIU Convocation Center.

Sophomore Laytwan Porter scored a team-high 12 points, senior Marin Maric added 11 and sophomore Levi Bradley chipped in 10 points as the Huskies moved to 3-0 on the season.

NIU held Idaho to just 31.6 percent (18-of-57) shooting in the contest, including 15.4 percent (4-of-26) from the three-point line. NIU and Idaho combined for 55 fouls and 57 free throw at-tempts, both teams committed 17 turnovers in the contest.

The Huskies and Vandals were even at 21 at the intermission and Idaho took a one-point lead, 27-26, in the fi rst two minutes of the second half before the Huskies surged in front.

Senior Dontel Highsmith opened the burst with a free throw to bring the Huskies even, Porter added a triple, his second of the half, to push NIU in front, 30-27, with 17:17 left. Maric then added a basket and Porter knocked down his third trifecta of the half as NIU’s run reached 9-0. Idaho got a basket from Ty Egbert but Maric responed with the next four as the Huskie run was 13-2 and NIU led 39-29 with 12:39 to play.

A triple from Brayon Blake trimmed the NIU advantage to 45-38 with just under eight minutes left, but that was as close as the Vandals would get as the Huskies shot 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the fi eld in the second half, and 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the free-throw line, to prevent Idaho from making a run to get back in the contest.

Highsmith fi nished with nine points, including 7-of-8 from the charity stripe, sophomore Jaylen Key added six points and a team-high six rebounds.

Both teams struggled off ensively in the fi rst half as NIU was just 7-of-26 (26.9 percent) from the fi eld in the opening 20 minutes while Idaho was just 7-of-28 (25 percent).

The Huskies led by as much as fi ve in the opening stanza but Idaho came back to take a three-point lead, 20-17, with just under three minutes to play before halftime. Freshman Noah McCarty, seeing his fi rst collegiate action after missing the fi rst two games due to injury, made a pair of free throws to cut into the Vandal lead and Bradley closed the half with a jumper to pull the Huskies even at the break.

Blake led all scorers with 17 points for Idaho, he just missed a double-double with nine rebounds, Victor Sanders added 14 points for the Vandals.

GAME 3GAME 3

NIU: 63

Idaho: 49


DeKalb, Ill.


15 Key, J. 2-5 0-0 2-4 2-4 6 3 6 0 3 1 0 2534 Maric, M. 4-4 1-1 2-2 1-3 4 3 11 0 3 0 0 222 Porter, L. 3-6 3-4 3-4 0-2 2 4 12 1 6 0 1 193 Highsmith, D. 1-5 0-1 7-8 0-3 3 4 9 1 2 0 3 2423 Armstead, A. 0-1 0-1 4-6 1-4 5 4 4 1 0 0 1 220 Wilson, M. 1-4 0-1 0-0 1-1 2 1 2 2 2 0 0 225 Thomas, J. 0-1 0-1 3-4 0-1 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 1810 German, E. 0-3 0-2 0-2 0-3 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 511 McCarty, N. 1-3 0-0 3-3 0-2 2 2 5 1 0 0 0 731 Pauga, A. 0-3 0-2 1-2 1-0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1242 Bradley, L. 5-8 0-1 0-0 0-1 1 1 10 0 0 0 1 24TEAM 2-5 7TOTALS 17-43 4-14 25-35 8-29 37 24 63 7 17 1 6 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 7-26 .269 2nd: 10-17 .588 Game: 17-43 .3953-PT FG%: 1st: 1-8 .125 2nd: 3-6 .500 Game: 4-14 .286FT%: 1st: 6-11 .545 2nd: 19-24 .792 Game: 25-35 .714

No. Idaho FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

4 Blake, B. 8-14 1-3 0-2 5-4 9 3 17 0 5 0 1 2223 Sherwood, N. 2-6 0-1 1-2 2-1 3 5 5 1 5 0 1 2744 Scott, J. 0-4 0-1 3-6 3-6 9 2 3 1 0 0 0 201 Callandret, P. 1-10 0-6 0-0 0-4 4 3 2 2 1 0 0 3511 Sanders, V. 5-9 2-5 2-5 0-1 1 5 14 0 0 0 0 150 Blair, N. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 313 Ingram, P. 1-2 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 3 3 0 0 0 1 1714 Sherwood, C. 0-2 0-2 0-0 2-0 2 4 0 2 2 0 0 1421 Mkrtychyan, A. 0-1 0-1 3-6 1-4 5 2 3 0 2 0 0 1924 Brimhall, T. 0-5 0-4 0-1 1-1 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 1325 Allen, T. 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 641 Egbert, T. 1-3 0-0 0-0 1-2 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 9TEAM 1-1 2TOTALS 18-57 4-26 9-22 16-25 41 31 49 7 17 0 4 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 7-28 .250 2nd: 11-29 .379 Game: 18-57 .3163-PT FG%: 1st: 1-12 .083 2nd: 3-14 .214 Game: 4-26 .154FT%: 1st: 6-14 .429 2nd: 3-8 .375 Game: 9-22 .409

Technical Fouls: Idaho - Callandret, Mkrtychyan; NIU - Porter (2)Officials: Chris Beaver, Steve Honacki, Brooks WellsAttendance: 1,430Score by Half

Idaho ....................................................21-28 49NIU ........................................................21-42 63


2016-17: BOX SCORES

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Sophomore Laytwan Porter scored a career-high 19 points but a late run by Cal State Northridge gave the Matadors an 84-82 victory over the Huskies on Saturday night at the Matadome. NIU led by fi ve with just over fi ve minutes to play until a 10-0 run gave the hosts a lead that the Huskies could not overcome.

Senior Dontel Highsmith scored 16 points while sophomore Jaylen Key and senior Marin Maric added 14 points.

A layup on the break from senior Aaric Armstead gave NIU a 70-65 lead with 5:24 to play, but on the next possession Reggie Theus Jr. hit a jumper to spark a 10-0 run for CSUN, that gave the Matadors a 75-70 lead with 3:15 left.

After the teams traded baskets, Marin converted an old-fash-ioned three-point play with just under two minutes left to pull NIU within a pair, 77-75.

Following a pair of free throws by CSUN, Porter knocked down a triple for the Huskies to trim the lead to just one with 1:19 left.

The Matadors made four-straight free throws as the lead grew back to fi ve, 83-78, with just under 20 seconds to play. CSUN fi nished the night 23-of-28 (82.1 percent) from the foul line.

NIU didn’t fold as Porter knocked down another triple to bring the Huskies back within two. The Matadors then split a pair at the line before sophomore Levi Bradley split a pair for the Huskies.

The Huskies had one last, unlikely chance as CSUN turned the ball over to NIU after the Bradley free throw but Highsmith’s desperation triple try came up empty as the Matadors escaped with the victory.

Key scored seven in the fi rst four minutes of the contest as NIU raced out to an 11-4 lead. Maric added a pair and Highsmith made a layup as the Huskies took a seven-point lead with 16:03 to play in the opening half.

CSUN trimmed the NIU lead to just three, 19-16, before a basket by Key and a corner triple from Porter pushed the NIU advantage back to eight, 24-16, with just under eight minutes to play in the opening half.

A 9-0 run from CSUN put the Matadors in front with just over 90 seconds left before the half but a basket from Bradley and a tip-in from Highsmith pushed NIU back in front at the half, 36-34.

Highsmith fueled the Huskie off ense early in the second half, scoring nine points in the opening eight minutes of the half as NIU held a fi ve-point advantage, 56-51.

CSUN clawed back to pull even, 65-65, on a pair of free throws from Smith with 6:47 to play. NIU responded with the next fi ve before the 10-0 burst that gave the Matadors the lead for good.

GAME 4GAME 4

NIU: 82

Cal State Northridge: 84

November 19, 2016 • The Matadome

Northridge, Calif.


15 Key, J. 5-10 1-3 3-4 3-5 8 3 14 0 2 1 0 2934 Maric, M. 5-13 0-2 4-5 6-1 7 4 14 0 3 1 1 242 Porter, L. 6-10 3-3 4-4 3-3 6 3 19 3 0 1 3 273 Highsmith, D. 6-19 1-6 3-5 2-3 5 0 16 3 0 0 2 2823 Armstead, A. 2-15 1-6 2-2 2-5 7 2 7 4 1 0 0 320 Wilson, M. 1-3 0-1 0-0 0-3 3 0 2 2 2 0 0 145 Thomas, J. 1-4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 1210 German, E. 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 311 McCarty, N. 0-1 0-0 0-0 4-2 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 1031 Pauga, A. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 242 Bradley, L. 2-5 1-1 3-4 1-0 1 3 8 0 0 1 0 19TEAM 2-2 4TOTALS 26-64 4-18 24-37 14-34 48 17 80 10 12 5 6 225TOTAL FG%: 1st: 13-37 .351 2nd: 15-45 .333 Game: 28-82 .3413-PT FG%: 1st: 3-12 .250 2nd: 4-11 .364 Game: 7-23 .304FT%: 1st: 7-9 .778 2nd: 12-15 .800 Game: 19-24 .792

No. CSUN FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

2 Lubin, R. 3-7 0-0 4-6 0-4 4 4 10 1 5 1 1 1945 Johns, D. 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 110 Smith, K. 2-8 0-4 11-12 0-5 5 3 15 8 3 1 0 343 Johnson, D. 1-3 0-1 0-0 0-4 4 1 2 1 3 0 0 2822 Parks, A. 10-13 1-3 1-1 0-8 8 4 22 4 0 0 0 371 Warren, M. 1-5 0-1 0-0 0-1 1 1 2 4 1 0 1 114 Dawson, T. 6-8 2-2 7-7 2-5 7 4 21 1 1 1 1 355 Kaba-Camara, M. 2-3 0-0 0-0 1-0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 723 Wilbut, J. 1-3 1-1 0-2 1-1 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 524 Theus Jr., R. 2-3 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 13TEAM 1-5 6 2TOTALS 28-54 5-13 23-28 5-34 39 21 84 20 15 5 3 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 14-29 .483 2nd: 14-25 .560 Game: 28-54 .5193-PT FG%: 1st: 3-7 .429 2nd: 2-6 .333 Game: 5-13 .385FT%: 1st: 3-6 .500 2nd: 20-22 .909 Game: 23-28 .821

Technical Fouls: NIU - Armstead; CSUN - WilbutOfficials: Michael Irving, Marin Cichocki, Donn BerdahlAttendance: 886Score by Half

NIU ........................................................36-46 82Cal State Northridge ......................34-50 84

DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team erased a 10-point halftime defi cit before falling to Cal Poly, 68-64, on Wednesday night in the NIU Thanksgiving Classic at the NIU Convocation Center. Senior Marin Maric scored a team-high 14 points to pace the Huskies.

NIU shot 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from the fi eld in the second half after shooting just 25.9 percent (7-of-27) in the fi rst half. Senior Aaric Armstead was the second Huskie in double fi gures with 11 points and a team-high six rebounds.

After Cal Poly took a 31-21 lead into the intermission, NIU raced out of the gates in the second half, using a 15-5 run to pull even with just over 13 minutes to play. Maric, who played just seven minutes in the fi rst half due to foul trouble, scored eight during the burst as the Huskies tied the contest, 36-36.

Still tied just past the midway point of the second half, sopho-more Levi Bradley made a basket to give the Huskies their fi rst leadoff the second half, 42-40, and following a turnover by the Mustangs, a triple by Armstead pushed the NIU advantage to fi ve with 8:46 left.

The NIU lead grew to as much as six on a triple from sophomore Austin Pauga, but Cal Poly quickly answered with six-straight points to tie the game, 51-51, with 6:48 remaining.

Cal Poly led by one with just over a minute left when Josh Mishler buried a triple to push the Mustang lead to four, 64-60. NIU answered with a layup from Maric to trim the lead to just a pair and, following a defensive stop, the Huskies had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead with less than 20 seconds to go, but NIU turned the ball over.

The Mustangs went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in the fi nal seconds to seal the victory.

Four players scored in double fi gures for the Mustangs, led by 19 points off the bench from Victor Joseph; Ridge Shipley added 15 points, Kyle Toth chipped in 12 and Mishler added 10 as Cal Poly fi nished the night shooting 51.1 percent (24-of-47) as a team, including 50 percent (11-of-22) from three.

NIU led by as much as four in the early going as a layup by freshman Eugene German gave the Huskies a 12-8 lead. Cal Poly responded with an 8-2 burst to move in front.

The Mustangs led by one, 20-19, after a free throw from Arm-stead with 3:12 left before halftime, but Cal Poly then used a 9-0 run to take a 10-point lead in the fi nal minute of the opening stanza. Armstead ended the run with a pair of free throws but Joseph closed the half with a jumper to push the Mustang lead back to 10 at the break, 31-21.

GAME 5GAME 5

NIU: 64

Cal Poly: 68


DeKalb, Ill.


15 Key, J. 3-9 0-1 1-2 1-4 5 0 7 1 3 0 0 2334 Maric, M. 5-8 0-0 4-4 0-3 3 4 14 0 4 0 0 242 Porter, L. 3-4 1-1 2-3 0-2 2 4 9 4 2 0 1 353 Highsmith, D. 0-3 0-2 5-6 1-3 4 0 5 1 0 0 1 2623 Armstead, A. 2-5 1-1 6-8 4-2 6 2 11 3 3 1 2 305 Thomas, J. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 610 German, E. 1-6 0-2 0-0 1-1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 811 McCarty, N. 3-5 0-1 0-0 2-3 5 0 6 1 3 0 0 1631 Pauga, A. 2-4 2-4 0-0 0-0 0 0 6 1 0 0 1 2042 Bradley, L. 2-6 0-1 0-0 1-0 1 4 4 1 1 0 0 12TEAM 2-3 5TOTALS 21-50 4-13 18-23 12-21 33 15 64 12 16 1 5 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 7-27 .259 2nd: 14-23 .609 Game: 21-50 .4203-PT FG%: 1st: 1-8 .125 2nd: 3-5 .600 Game: 4-13 .308FT%: 1st: 6-8 .750 2nd: 12-15 .800 Game: 18-23 .783

No. Cal Poly FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

15 Martin, J. 0-3 0-0 0-0 0-2 2 3 0 0 1 0 0 1121 Meikle, L. 2-9 0-2 2-2 0-4 4 2 6 1 3 0 0 224 Shead, J. 1-4 0-2 2-4 0-4 4 1 4 6 3 0 2 2910 Shipley, R. 6-9 3-5 0-0 0-0 0 2 15 2 1 0 1 2413 Toth, K. 4-7 4-6 0-0 0-0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 201 Abrams, A. 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 73 Fields, D. 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 920 Joseph, V. 6-8 2-3 5-6 0-1 1 5 19 1 2 0 1 2925 Mishler, J. 4-5 2-3 0-0 0-1 1 3 10 1 1 0 0 2244 Gordon, Z. 1-1 0-0 0-0 1-3 4 4 2 1 0 1 1 27TEAM 1-3 4 3TOTALS 24-47 11-22 9-12 3-19 22 20 68 14 16 1 5 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 12-26 .462 2nd: 12-21 .571 Game: 24-47 .5113-PT FG%: 1st: 6-13 .462 2nd: 5-9 .556 Game: 11-22 .500FT%: 1st: 1-4 .250 2nd: 8-8 1.00 Game: 9-12 .750

Technical Fouls: noneOfficials: Bart Wegenke, Scott Siville, Jabir WalkerAttendance: 844Score by Half

Cal Poly ................................................31-37 68NIU ........................................................21-43 64

DEKALB, Ill. – Senior Aaric Armstead scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds but the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team fell to Elon, 85-80, in double overtime on Friday afternoon in the NIU Thanksgiving Classic at the NIU Convocation Center.

Senior Marin Maric recorded his 15th career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore Jaylen Key added 15 points.

Elon led by four with just over two minutes to play in regulation when a basket by Key cut the Phoenix lead to just a pair. After the Huskie defense forced a shot clock violation, NIU pulled even on a layup from Armstead with just under a minute to play.

The NIU defense got another stop to get the ball back with the shot clock off , but the Huskies couldn’t convert and the game went to overtime.

In the fi rst extra session, Elon led by a pair before a triple from sophomore Laytwan Porter pushed the Huskies in front, 68-67, with 1:36 left. The Phoenix answered on their next possession with a trifecta of their own to retake the lead by two.

With just under a minute to play in overtime, Armstead made a pair of free throws to even the contest again, 70-70. Following a defense stop by NIU, the Huskies looked to hold for one shot but were called for an off ensive foul, giving the ball back to Elon with less than 25 second to play in the overtime. Elon held for one shot but it wouldn’t fall as the game went to a second overtime.

Elon scored the fi rst four points of the second overtime before a layup from Maric cut the lead in half. The Phoenix scored the next fi ve, including a triple from Tyler Seibring, to take a 79-72 lead with 2:28 to play in the second overtime. NIU would cut the Elon lead back to fi ve, but was unable to get any closer as the Phoenix won their second game of the weekend.

NIU led by as much as nine in the opening 20 minutes. A layup from Dawkins just before the midway point of the half brought Elon within one, but the Huskies responded with an 8-0 run to take a 25-16 lead with just under six minutes to play before the break. Armstead made the fi rst two baskets to open the run, Noah McCarty added a layup and Levi Bradley fi nished the run with a layup to give the Huskies a nine-point lead.

Elon trimmed the lead back to three, but a layup from KEY, sandwiched around a pair of baskets by Armstead, helped the Huskies push the lead back to nine, 33-24, heading into halftime.

The Phoenix made four triples in just over three minutes to open the second half as they evened the contest, 38-38, early in the second half. NIU was able to go back in front by as much as six, 46-40, but Elon made eight triples in the second half, and shot 53.6 percent from the fi eld, as they continued to answer each burst by NIU.

GAME 6 (DOUBLE OVERTIME)GAME 6 (DOUBLE OVERTIME)

NIU: 80

Elon: 85


DeKalb, Ill.


15 Key, J. 7-13 1-2 0-0 3-3 6 2 15 2 2 0 0 3734 Maric, M. 8-13 0-1 7-14 3-7 10 3 23 1 3 0 0 362 Porter, L. 3-12 2-5 0-0 0-3 3 5 8 4 4 1 1 403 Highsmith, D. 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-3 3 1 0 2 3 0 1 2123 Armstead, A. 8-19 2-7 6-6 8-8 16 1 24 1 2 0 2 435 Thomas, J. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2110 German, E. 0-2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 611 McCarty, N. 3-5 0-0 0-1 2-3 5 3 6 0 0 1 0 1331 Pauga, A. 1-2 0-1 0-0 2-1 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 1942 Bradley, L. 1-5 0-2 0-0 0-1 1 0 2 1 0 0 2 14TEAM 2-0 2TOTALS 31-73 5-19 13-21 20-29 49 16 80 13 14 2 6 250TOTAL FG%: 1st: 15-35 .429 2nd: 11-23 .478 OT: 5-15 .333 Game: 31-73 .4253-PT FG%: 1st: 3-9 .333 2nd: 1-3 .333 OT: 1-7 .143 Game: 5-19 .263FT%: 1st: 0-0 .000 2nd: 6-11 .545 OT: 7-10 .700 Game: 13-21 .619

No. Elon FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

00 Dawkins, B. 6-8 3-4 0-0 1-4 5 4 15 1 2 0 0 3341 Seibring, T. 6-12 2-7 1-2 1-5 6 3 15 3 4 1 1 431 Eddy, L. 3-6 2-2 2-4 0-2 2 3 10 5 0 0 0 282 Thompson, D. 3-4 0-0 0-1 0-1 1 0 6 2 3 0 1 2222 Santa Ana, S. 6-14 5-12 3-4 1-6 7 3 20 1 1 0 1 3410 Kundrotas, K. 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 712 Hairston, C. 3-5 0-0 0-0 1-2 3 4 6 1 3 0 0 1813 Swoope, D. 1-9 1-9 1-4 2-5 7 1 4 1 1 0 0 3520 Eberhardt, S. 4-9 1-5 0-2 2-1 3 1 9 2 2 1 3 30TEAM 3-0 3 2TOTALS 32-67 14-38 7-17 12-27 39 20 85 16 18 2 6 250TOTAL FG%: 1st: 10-25 .400 2nd: 15-28 .536 OT: 7-14 .500 Game: 32-67 .4783-PT FG%: 1st: 3-13 .231 2nd: 8-18 .444 OT: 3-7 .429 Game: 14-38 .368FT%: 1st: 1-2 .500 2nd: 0-3 .000 OT: 6-12 .500 Game: 7-17 .412

Technical Fouls: noneOfficials: Kyle Ingram, Gerald Williams, Matt MoralesAttendance: 712Score by Half

Elon .......................................................24-38-8-15 85NIU ........................................................33-29-8-10 80


2016-17: BOX SCORES

DEKALB, Ill. – Four players scored in double fi gures, led by 21 points from senior Aaric Armstead, as the Northern Illinois Uni-versity men’s basketball team claimed a 92-81 victory over UIC on Saturday afternoon in the fi nal game of the NIU Thanksgiving Classic at the NIU Convocation Center.

NIU shot 54.8 percent (34-of-62) from the fi eld; freshman Eugene German scored a career-best 17 points, senior Marin Maric added 16 points and sophomore Jaylen Key added 12 points.

Early in the contest, NIU used a 10-2 run to take an eight-point lead, 14-6, less than six minutes into the contest. Senior Dontel Highsmith opened the run with a layup, Armstead and sopho-more Levi Bradley added baskets before sophomore Laytwan Porter and German each scored as the Huskies built an early lead.

After UIC trimmed the gap to three, NIU scored the next six to push the lead to nine, 22-13, with just over 11 minutes to play in the half. Bradley opened the burst with a jumper, Maric and Key also added layups during the spurt.

NIU led by eight when a 7-0 run for UIC cut the Huskie lead to just one, 34-33, with 2:21 to play in the half. The Huskies led by a pair in the fi nal second when sophomore Austin Pauga re-bounded a miss by Bradley and just beat the buzzer with a short jumper to give the Huskies a 42-38 lead at the intermission.

The Huskie shot 50 percent (17-of-34) from the fi eld in the opening 20 minutes and went 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.

After not connecting of its two three-point tries in the fi rst half, NIU opened the second stanza with a back-to-back triples from Porter and Maric as the NIU lead grew to 48-40.

Six-straight points from Dikembe Dixson helped UIC cut the NIU lead back to just two, 55-53, but the Huskies answered again with an 8-0 run.

German got the Huskies started with a layup, Bradley added a dunk before layups from German and Armstead gave NIU a 63-53 advantage with 13 minutes to play. The lead grew to 14 on a jumper from Key with just over nine minutes remaining before eight-straight from the Flames cut the lead to just 73-67 with 7:17 left.

With under six minutes to go and the Huskies still leading by a half-dozen, Maric made a pair of free throws and, following a miss by UIC, Armstead connected on a corner triple as the lead grew back to double fi gures, allowing the Huskies to coast home in the fi nal fi ve minutes.

Dixson led all scorers with 31 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 14-of-20 from the free-throw line for UIC.

GAME 7GAME 7

NIU: 92

UIC: 81


DeKalb, Ill.


15 Key, J. 6-9 0-0 0-0 3-2 5 3 12 2 0 1 0 2634 Maric, M. 4-12 1-2 7-8 2-2 4 3 16 2 3 2 0 232 Porter, L. 3-3 1-1 0-0 0-2 2 4 7 4 5 0 1 253 Highsmith, D. 2-3 0-0 1-2 1-0 1 1 5 0 0 0 1 2023 Armstead, A. 7-11 2-3 5-6 3-4 7 3 21 1 3 1 0 370 Wilson, M. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 25 Thomas, J. 1-1 0-0 2-2 0-0 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 510 German, E. 7-10 0-1 3-4 0-4 4 3 17 0 3 0 1 1911 McCarty, N. 0-2 0-0 0-0 1-1 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 921 Damaska, S. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 131 Pauga, A. 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 2 1 0 0 2 1142 Bradley, L. 3-10 0-1 2-2 0-1 1 2 8 0 2 0 0 22TEAM 4-1 5TOTALS 34-62 4-8 20-24 14-17 31 26 92 11 16 4 5 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 10-26 .385 2nd: 11-26 .423 Game: 21-52 .4043-PT FG%: 1st: 6-15 .400 2nd: 4-14 .286 Game: 10-29 .345FT%: 1st: 0-0 .000 2nd: 3-5 .600 Game: 3-5 .600

No. UIC FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

2 Santos, K.J. 1-4 0-1 0-0 2-1 3 3 2 2 0 0 0 2210 Dixson, D. 7-12 3-5 14-20 2-3 5 1 31 0 3 1 1 3621 Odiase, T. 3-4 0-0 1-2 2-3 5 4 7 0 1 1 0 245 Ferguson, T. 3-6 1-3 4-4 1-3 4 4 11 1 6 0 2 2123 Ottey, M. 4-11 1-2 7-7 0-1 1 1 16 1 3 0 1 280 Matthews, D. 0-3 0-1 0-0 2-0 2 2 0 2 1 0 0 141 Kolawole, M. 0-1 0-1 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 515 Boahen, G. 2-4 0-1 2-2 1-1 2 4 6 1 4 0 2 1722 Guice, K. 1-3 1-3 0-0 1-2 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 1832 Robinson, C. 2-3 0-0 0-0 2-0 2 4 4 0 0 0 1 15TEAM 0-2 2TOTALS 23-51 6-17 29-37 13-16 29 24 81 7 18 2 7 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 12-29 .414 2nd: 11-22 .500 Game: 23-51 .4513-PT FG%: 1st: 3-7 .429 2nd: 3-10 .300 Game: 6-17 .353FT%: 1st: 11-14 .786 2nd: 18-23 .783 Game: 29-37 .784

Technical Fouls: noneOfficials: Lewis Garrison, Tim Stewart, Owen ShorttAttendance: 1,398Score by Half

UIC.........................................................38-43 81NIU ........................................................42-50 92

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) in the second half as the Sycamores erased a two-point halftime defi cit to down the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team, 63-52, on Wednesday night at the Hulman Center.

Freshman Justin Thomas scored a career-high 12 points, but he was the only Huskie in double fi gures in the contest.

Indiana State led 14-6, before a 12-0 run from the Huskies pushed NIU in front by four. A pair of free throws from senior Marin Maric opened the run, senior Dontel Highsmith knocked down a corner triple and Thomas had a steal and coast-to-coast layup to force a Sycamore timeout with six minutes to play in the half.

Following the timeout, Highsmith made another basket and senior Aaric Armstead connected on a trio of free throws as NIU took an 18-14 lead with just over four minutes to play in the half.

The Sycamores answered back to regain the lead, 24-22, but the Huskies closed the half with a jumper in the paint from Thomas and a coast-to-coast layup just before the halftime horn by Arm-stead as the Huskies took a 26-24 lead into the intermission.

The layup just before the buzzer pushed Armstead over the 1,000-point plateau, making him the 30th player in NIU history to reach the century mark. Armstead fi nished with nine points.

NIU shot 40 percent (10-of-25) from the fi eld in the fi rst half while holding Indiana State to just 33.3 percent (10-of-30) shoot-ing.

Indiana State raced out of halftime with the fi rst seven points to take a fi ve-point lead, 31-26, in the opening three minutes of the second half.

The Sycamores led by six before a triple from sophomore Laytwan Porter and a short jumper from freshman Noah McCarty cut the Indiana State lead to just one, 35-34.

A 10-0 run helped push the Sycamores lead to 45-34 just before the midway point of the second half. Indiana State’s lead grew to as much as 13, but the Huskies cut the lead back to just a half-dozen with just under three minutes to play.

Thomas scored six points in under 45 seconds, four from the free-throw line and two off a steal of an inbounds pass, as the Huskies cut the Indiana State lead to just 56-50 with 2:46 remain-ing. Indiana State responded by scoring seven of the next eight as the Sycamores closed out the victory.

T.J. Bell led all scorers with 17 points for Indiana State, Brenton Scott added 14 points and Everett Clemons chipped in 12 for the Sycamores.

GAME 8GAME 8

NIU: 52

Indiana State: 63

November 30, 2016 • Hulman Center

Terre Haute, Ind.


2 Porter, L. 3-11 2-6 0-0 0-1 1 4 8 0 6 1 1 233 Highsmith, D. 3-5 1-2 0-2 0-1 1 1 7 1 1 0 2 2715 Key, J. 2-5 0-1 1-2 3-3 6 3 5 1 3 0 1 1623 Armstead, A. 2-6 0-2 5-6 0-6 6 2 9 1 3 3 1 3233 Maric, M. 1-7 0-1 2-3 1-7 8 2 4 2 2 1 1 300 Wilson, M. 0-2 0-1 0-0 1-1 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 105 Thomas, J. 4-8 0-1 4-4 0-4 4 0 12 1 1 0 2 2110 German, E. 1-3 0-1 0-2 0-0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 711 McCarty, N. 1-2 0-1 0-0 2-3 5 3 2 0 1 1 0 1121 Damaska, S. 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 131 Pauga, A. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 542 Bradley, L. 1-3 0-0 0-0 0-2 2 2 2 0 2 0 0 17TEAM 3-0 3TOTALS 18-52 3-16 13-21 10-29 39 20 52 6 20 6 8 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 10-25 .400 2nd: 8-27 .296 Game: 18-52 .3463-PT FG%: 1st: 1-7 .143 2nd: 2-9 .222 Game: 3-16 .188FT%: 1st: 5-9 .556 2nd: 8-12 .667 Game: 13-21 .619

No. Indiana State FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

0 Clemons, E. 6-7 0-0 0-0 1-5 6 3 12 4 1 0 3 294 Scott, B. 4-11 2-5 4-6 0-6 6 1 14 2 2 0 2 3030 Van Scyoc, M. 1-6 1-6 1-3 0-1 1 3 4 0 1 1 0 2032 Paige, L. 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 4 2 3 2 0 1 2342 Bell, T.J. 8-11 0-0 1-1 1-3 4 3 17 0 3 1 0 202 Barnes, J. 1-5 1-4 0-0 0-4 4 1 3 3 3 0 0 205 Kessinger, B. 1-5 0-0 0-0 4-3 7 1 2 0 1 0 0 2012 Bunschoten, N. 0-3 0-3 0-0 0-1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 513 Franklin, D. 1-4 0-2 1-2 0-1 1 0 3 2 1 0 0 1734 Murphy, B. 1-1 0-0 2-5 0-1 1 3 4 1 1 0 1 941 Rickman, E. 1-1 0-0 0-1 1-3 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 7TEAM 2-1 3TOTALS 25-56 4-20 9-18 9-29 38 20 63 15 16 3 7 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 10-30 .333 2nd: 15-26 .577 Game: 25-56 .4463-PT FG%: 1st: 2-14 .143 2nd: 2-6 .333 Game: 4-20 .200FT%: 1st: 2-6 .333 2nd: 7-12 .583 Game: 9-18 .500

Technical Fouls: noneOfficials: Ed Crenshaw, Gene Grimshaw, Jeb HartnessAttendance: 3,730Score by Half

NIU ........................................................26-26 52Indiana State .....................................24-39 63

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team trailed by just eight with 12 minutes to play before Minnesota closed the game on a 31-19 run as the Gophers defeated the Huskies, 77-57, on Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena.

Sophomore Marshawn Wilson scored a game-high 19 points while senior Dontel Highsmith added 10 points for NIU.

Early in the contest, a layup from sophomore Levi Bradley trimmed the Minnesota lead to one with just under 11 minutes to play in the opening half before the Golden Gophers answered with the next six to take a 15-8 advantage.

The Minnesota lead grew to eight until a 7-2 burst for the Huskies pulled NIU within three, 20-17, with 4:32 to play in the half. Wilson opened the spurt with a layup, senior Marin Maric added a basket, sophomore Jaylen Key hit a short jumper and sophomore Laytwan Porter chipped in a free throw.

Maric closed the contest with nine points, fi ve rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

Minnesota’s lead grew back to seven before back-to-back baskets from Wilson brought the Huskies back within three, 24-21, with just under two minutes to play before the break. Minnesota scored the next fi ve and a basket from Highsmith trimmed the Gopher lead to a half-dozen, 29-23, at the half.

NIU held Minnesota to just 30 percent shooting (9-of-30) in the opening 20 minutes as the Gophers held the six-point lead thanks to their 9-1 edge at the free-throw line.

Highsmith scored the fi rst four out of the locker room as the Huskies pulled within a pair, 29-27.

Still leading by two, Minnesota used a 9-3 burst to push their lead to eight, 40-32, with just under 16 minutes remaining. The Gopher lead grew to 11 until an old-fashioned three-point play from Maric brought the Huskies back within eight, 46-38, with 12:10 left.

Shortly after the three-point play, Maric picked up his third and fourth fouls of the afternoon as the Gophers used a 13-3 run to push the lead to 59-41, putting the contest out of reach.

Minnesota shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from the fi eld in the second half as fi ve Gophers reached double fi gures. Reggie Lynch scored a team-high 18 points, Jordan Murphy added 12, Nate Mason chipped in 11 while Dupree McBrayer and Akeem Springs each scored 10 points.

GAME 9GAME 9

NIU: 57

Minnesota: 77

December 11, 2016 • Williams Arena

Minneapolis, Minn.


23 Armstead, A. 0-5 0-1 3-4 2-2 4 3 3 2 1 0 1 2315 Key, J. 3-10 0-0 0-0 1-2 3 2 6 0 1 0 0 2334 Maric, M. 4-9 0-1 1-1 1-4 5 5 9 1 3 3 3 273 Highsmith, D. 4-7 0-1 2-2 1-0 1 1 10 1 1 0 1 285 Thomas, J. 3-7 0-1 1-2 0-6 6 3 7 0 1 0 1 280 Wilson, M. 7-13 2-4 3-4 0-2 2 3 19 2 2 0 0 212 Porter, L. 0-2 0-0 1-2 0-2 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 711 McCarty, N. 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 1031 Pauga, A. 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 1642 Bradley, L. 1-4 0-2 0-0 0-2 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 17TEAM 2-1 3 TOTALS 22-59 2-11 11-15 7-21 28 23 57 10 12 3 10 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 11-30 .367 2nd: 11-29 .379 Game: 22-59 .3733-PT FG%: 1st: 0-3 .000 2nd: 2-8 .250 Game: 2-11 .182FT%: 1st: 1-3 .333 2nd: 10-12 .833 Game: 11-15 .733

No. Minnesota FG 3FG FT O-D TOT F TP A TO B S MIN

5 Coffey, A. 2-7 0-2 2-2 1-2 3 4 6 4 3 0 3 263 Murphy, J. 5-10 0-1 2-2 5-5 10 3 12 0 1 0 0 2322 Lynch, R. 5-9 0-0 8-10 4-7 11 2 18 1 1 3 0 281 McBrayer, D. 3-5 1-1 3-4 0-4 4 0 10 2 4 0 1 282 Mason, N. 2-9 0-3 7-8 1-1 2 2 11 6 0 0 0 3021 Konate, B. 1-2 0-0 0-0 1-2 3 2 2 0 0 0 1 120 Springs, A. 3-8 2-5 2-2 0-3 3 1 10 1 3 0 4 2242 Hurt, M. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-2 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 924 Curry, E. 2-6 0-1 1-2 1-2 3 0 5 1 2 1 0 1732 Gilbert, A. 1-2 1-2 0-0 0-1 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 5TEAM 3-3 6TOTALS 24-58 4-15 25-30 16-32 48 16 77 17 14 4 9 200TOTAL FG%: 1st: 9-30 .300 2nd: 15-28 .536 Game: 24-58 .4143-PT FG%: 1st: 2-9 .222 2nd: 2-6 .333 Game: 4-15 .267FT%: 1st: 9-12 .750 2nd: 16-18 .889 Game: 25-30 .833

Technical Fouls: NIU - WilsonOfficials: John Higgins, Rob Kueneman, Edwin YoungAttendance: 8,625Score by Half

NIU ........................................................23-34 57Minnesota ..........................................29-48 77

2016-17 NIU Men's BasketballNorthern Illinois Combined Team Statistics (as of D ec 11, 2016)

All games

RECORD: OVERALL HOME AWAY NEUTRALALL GAMES 4-5 4-2 0-3 0-0CONFERENCE 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0NON-CONFERENCE 4-5 4-2 0-3 0-0

Total 3-Point F-Throw Rebounds

## Player gp-gs min avg fg-fga fg% 3fg-fga 3fg% ft-fta ft% off def tot avg pf dq a to blk stl pts avg

34 MARIC, Marin 9-9 239 26.6 47-88 . 5 3 4 4-12 . 3 3 3 28-40 . 7 0 0 16 33 49 5.4 29 1 9 25 10 5 126 14.0

15 KEY, Jaylen 9-9 219 24.3 38-77 . 4 9 4 2-7 . 2 8 6 17-25 . 6 8 0 21 34 55 6.1 18 0 8 16 4 2 95 10.6

23 ARMSTEAD, Aaric 9-9 278 30.9 27-81 . 3 3 3 8-28 . 2 8 6 33-42 . 7 8 6 22 36 58 6.4 20 0 14 15 8 9 95 10.6

02 PORTER, Laytwan 9-8 224 24.9 27-63 . 4 2 9 16-28 . 5 7 1 13-17 . 7 6 5 4 22 26 2.9 29 2 25 26 4 12 83 9.2

03 HIGHSMITH, Dontel 9-9 213 23.7 19-53 . 3 5 8 2-14 . 1 4 3 21-34 . 6 1 8 8 13 21 2.3 12 0 13 9 0 14 61 6.8

42 BRADLEY, Levi 9-0 178 19.8 21-55 . 3 8 2 3-15 . 2 0 0 12-13 . 9 2 3 6 15 21 2.3 17 0 3 8 2 5 57 6.3

10 GERMAN, Eugene 8-0 75 9.4 15-36 . 4 1 7 2-11 . 1 8 2 5-13 . 3 8 5 1 10 11 1.4 5 0 2 6 0 2 37 4.6

00 WILSON, Marshawn 7-0 110 15.7 12-29 . 4 1 4 2-11 . 1 8 2 6-10 . 6 0 0 3 13 16 2.3 8 0 12 11 0 3 32 4.6

05 THOMAS, Justin 9-1 134 14.9 13-25 . 5 2 0 0-4 . 0 0 0 10-13 . 7 6 9 0 13 13 1.4 9 0 6 2 0 3 36 4.0

11 McCARTY, Noah 7-0 76 10.9 8-19 . 4 2 1 0-2 . 0 0 0 3-4 . 7 5 0 11 14 25 3.6 18 0 3 5 2 1 19 2.7

21 DAMASKA, Sean 3-0 11 3.7 3-4 . 7 5 0 0-0 . 0 0 0 2-3 . 6 6 7 1 4 5 1.7 2 0 1 0 0 0 8 2.7

31 PAUGA, Austin 9-0 118 13.1 7-21 . 3 3 3 5-17 . 2 9 4 1-2 . 5 0 0 5 6 11 1.2 7 0 7 0 0 6 20 2.2

Team 21 19 40

Total.......... 9 1875 237-551 . 4 3 0 44-149 . 2 9 5 151-216 . 6 9 9 119 232 351 39.0 174 3 103 123 30 62 669 74.3

Opponents...... 9 1875 220-514 . 4 2 8 68-216 . 3 1 5 132-191 . 6 9 1 92 235 327 36.3 199 - 122 145 22 51 640 71.1

TEAM STATISTICS NIU OPPSCORING 669 640 Points per game 74.3 71.1 Scoring margin +3.2 -FIELD GOALS-ATT 237-551 220-514 Field goal pct . 4 3 0 . 4 2 83 POINT FG-ATT 44-149 68-216 3-point FG pct . 2 9 5 . 3 1 5 3-pt FG made per game 4.9 7.6FREE THROWS-ATT 151-216 132-191 Free throw pct . 6 9 9 . 6 9 1 F-Throws made per game 16.8 14.7REBOUNDS 351 327 Rebounds per game 39.0 36.3 Rebounding margin +2.7 -ASSISTS 103 122 Assists per game 11.4 13.6TURNOVERS 123 145 Turnovers per game 13.7 16.1 Turnover margin +2.4 - Assist/turnover ratio 0.8 0.8STEALS 62 51 Steals per game 6.9 5.7BLOCKS 30 22 Blocks per game 3.3 2.4ATTENDANCE 6705 13241 Home games-Avg/Game 6-1118 3-4414 Neutral site-Avg/Game - 0-0

Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT OT2 TotalsNorthern Illinois 293 350 16 10 669Opponents 256 355 14 15 640

Date Opponent Score Att.

11/11/16 INDIANA STATE Wot 80-78 1565! 11/14/16 ROOSEVELT W 99-55 756

11/16/16 IDAHO W 63-49 143011/19/16 at Cal State Northridge L 82-84 886

# 11/23/16 CAL POLY L 64-68 844# 11/25/16 ELON L o 2 80-85 712# 11/26/16 UIC W 92-81 1398

11/30/16 at Indiana State L 52-63 373012/11/16 at Minnesota L 57-77 8625

* = Conference game! = NIU Thanksgiving Classic Prelim Game# = NIU Thanksgiving Classic

2016-17 NIU Men’s Basketball · Dec. 14, 2016 vs. Olivet Nazarene 2016-17 NIU Men’s Basketball 2016-17 NIU Men’s Basketball 2016-17 SCHEDULE Day Date Opponent Time/Result

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