Five players scored in double figures, led by 14 points from Ethan Butler (Toronto, Ontario/Southwest Academy), James Dent Jr. (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) and Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic), as the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team eased past Holy Cross (Ind.), 105-37, on Thursday night (Nov. 7) at the NIU Convocation Center.

Quaran McPherson (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y./Link Year) added 13 points while Kailon Nicholls (Toronto, Ontario/Hargrave Miliary Academy) chipped in 10.

“Tonight was a good night for NIU,” said Huskie head coach Rashon Burno. “Our guys came out and had a level of discipline that is needed in a game like this. I thought we shared the ball well and they really did what was asked of them on the discipline side. We shot the ball well, which is important for us, the three ball went in, we shot 50 percent (13-of-26) which is huge for us, it opens up the floor for our guards. We played with the right intention for 40 minutes.”

NIU raced to an 11-0 lead in the opening three-and-a-half minutes of the contest as four Huskies scored, including a pair of buckets from Jones.

The Huskie advantage ballooned to 29 at the intermission as Nasir Muhammad (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) canned a trifecta just before the horn, giving NIU a 50-21 lead at the break.

NIU shot 64.5 percent (20-of-31) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from three-point range.

After halftime, the Huskie defense turned up the heat as they held Holy Cross (Ind.) to just 3-of-24 shooting (12.5 percent) in the second half, and 2-of-9 (22.2 percent) from three. Offensively, NIU increased its efficiency as the Huskies shot 68.8 percent (22-of-32) from the floor in the second 20 minutes, including 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from long range.

Thirteen different Huskies scored in the contest with eight players netting at least eight points.

NIU forced 19 turnovers, which were turned into 30 points. The Huskies had a 56-10 advantage in points in the paint and an 18-0 edge in second chance points as the Saints grabbed just four offensive rebounds.

As a team, the Huskies had 21 assists, led by four each from Dent and Muhammad.

Justin O’Neal and Joey Garwood each scored 10 points to lead the Saints.

NIU will return to action on Tuesday night, Nov. 12, as the Huskies host Monmouth at the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Hawks is slated for 6 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.