NIU Huskies avenge the Toledo Rockets 61-65 on Senior Night

Victory couldn't be sweeter in Dekalb tonight as Northern Illinois took down Toledo in the final home game of the season.

Even though this was a night for the seniors, freshman Abdel Nader led the team in scoring with 12 points and sophomore Aksel Bolin scored 10 while grabbing 8 boards and dishing out 4 assists.

Senior Tyler Storm did get the start and finished with 8 points and 3 rebounds in 18 minutes played. DeMarcus Grady went in the game just before the half and played just one minute.

The game was pretty much even in most statistical categories. What this game came down to was whoever wanted the game more in the end, which ended up being the Huskies. The Huskies dominated the boards as usual 31-25 with 11 offensive boards to 5. That is huge.

The Huskies were actually out shot 44.2% to 41.2% but NIU had 8 more shot attempts due to the rebounding success.

The game was tied 61-61 with 3:32 left in the game. Keith Gray put in the basket to not only tie the game, but to put the Huskies ahead by one with a free throw and another layup to go up 64-61.

After that the Rockets missed a three, the Huskies rebounded but then missed three straight shots of their own. Toledo misses yet another three, but NIU turns the ball over again to Toledo.

The Rockets look to take a game-tying three with 7 seconds left in the game but Marquavese Ford steals the ball and Toledo has to foul with two seconds left in the game. He makes a free throw to seal put NIU up by 4 and seal the deal at the end.

Couldn't have asked for a better senior night for the Huskies in this one. It was nearly the same score as the football game which was 63-60. Way to outscore that one.