DEKALB, Ill. – Eastern Illinois had scoreless stretches in both halves on Wednesday night with a seven minute scoreless streak in the second half allowing Northern Illinois to pick up a 55-45 win over the Panthers.
EIU fell to 1-7 on the season while NIU improved to 2-5.
Northern Illinois led 29-23 at the half as EIU hit two of its first three shots from 3-point range in the opening half,
Kashawn Charles hitting both as he moved into 16th on the EIU career 3-pointers made list.Â
Charles would score 15 points in the game for EIU but the Panthers hit a cold stretch from outside late in the first half as they missed their final 12 3-pointers of the half. EIU would finish the game 7-of-28 from behind the arc.
Trendon Hankerson scored 12 points in the first half for NIU making all four Huskies 3-pointers in the opening half. Keshawn Williams scored 13 of his game-high 24 points in the opening half.Â
Williams steal with 8:42 left in the game gave the Huskies their biggest lead at the time at 44-36. Williams would give NIU their first double figure lead on the next possession with Hankerson pushing the NIU lead to 49-36 with 5:36 remaining. Hankerson finished with 14 points.
EIU would have a seven minute scoreless streak late in the second half that was eventually snapped on a
Henry Abraham 3-pointer with 2:53 left to play in the game.
Jermaine Hamlin scored 12 points off the bench going 6-of-6 at the foul line.Â
Paul Bizimana pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Panthers.