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Hankerson, Beane make plays late, Huskie defense shuts down Western Michigan

It was anything but a pretty result for Northern Illinois University men’s basketball as they faced conference rival Western Michigan Saturday. Fortunately for the Huskies, it didn’t need to be, as an improved second-half effort led NIU to an important 58-52 win over the Broncos.

“Typical MAC game,” coach Mark Montgomery said. “Unbelievable defense is played on both ends, hard to score. I think we finally broke loose in the second half where we finally get some stops and got out in transition.”

A promising six-point start for leading scorer Eugene German (20 points per game) tailed off after just four minutes, and the Huskies (11-9, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) limped into the halftime break shooting just 33.3% from the field and 22.2% from three. By outright field goal percentage, Western Michigan (9-11, 2-5 MAC) didn’t look much better (34.6%) but the Broncos also hit seven of their 14 threes in the first half.

“Coming out of the halftime, it was a huge focal point,” said Trendon Hankerson. “Coach challenged us, the guards defensively to step up and stop them from shooting as well. So that's what we did. We were just playing harder.”

The factor keeping the two teams level was Western Michigan’s struggle at the FT line. They had four more attempts than the Huskies but hit just a single shot from the stripe in the first half (1-6).

German and the hosts entered the second half swinging, as the senior guard hit two threes within three minutes, doubling his first-half point total in just a few possessions. When he began to cool off again, failing to score for the rest of the game, the Huskies leaned heavily on the energy of guards Darius Beane and Tyler Cochran, who each had effort plays to stave off the Broncos.

“I thought Tyler Cochran's energy off the bench, his six rebounds and six points sparked us,” Montgomery said. “We had multiple guys in double figures. This is life in the MAC, where every game is going to be a dogfight to the end.”

Beane had some flashy plays throughout the game, drawing a cheer from the crowd when he jammed a monster putback dunk after a Hankerson missed layup on the head of a Broncos defender in the first half.

“I thought he had the play of the year with that tip dunk,” Montgomery said. “That got us going.”

Beane reacted on instinct.

“Once Trendon attacked, I thought it was a foul,” Beane said. “But I just (saw) the ball come off and I just went up and got it.”

The increased energy led to separation as Western Michigan struggled to break through the Huskies’ defense, shooting a mere 9% from three-point range — a stark contrast from their 50% first half.

“Keep going, keep tightening the grasp,” Cochran said. “Even though I don't score as much or when I'm not scoring, there’s always something you can do out there to contribute to the team. And that was just playing harder and going out there and giving energy.”

By the numbers: Chicago native Brandon Johnson, one of Western Michigan's leading scorers, entered the game averaging 15.3 points, but the NIU defense held him to 12 on 4-13 shooting.

Beyond the box score: In a game full of Beane highlights, perhaps the most impressive one was when the guard picked off a Broncos pass and barely saved it from going out of bounds, tossing it to Tyler Cochran before sprinting down the court. Cochran passed back to Beane, who finished a flailing layup into the body of a Western Michigan defender.

They said it: "That's just MAC play," Montgomery said. "Both teams are going to play physical. Every game is so important and, and this is a toughness conference. It's a great conference that guys are going to get their noses dirty. James got in foul trouble. Their big was in foul trouble, but you know, it's a part of the game."

What's next: NIU plays Ohio on Jan. 28 WMU plays Central Michigan Feb. 1.