DEKALB, Ill. — In a much-needed victory, Northern Illinois triumphed over Ball State with a score of 76-66 on Saturday night, snapping a frustrating six-game losing streak. The standout performance came from Nasir Muhammad, who scored 19 points and pulled down six rebounds, contributing significantly to the Huskies’ success.

James Dent Jr. and Quaran McPherson both made an impact as well, each recording double-doubles with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Their efforts were instrumental in ensuring Northern Illinois claimed control of the game early on.

On the opposing side, Ball State’s Ethan Brittain-Watts led his team with 16 points and five assists. Jermahri Hill also had a noteworthy game, contributing 12 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Juan Sebastian Gorosito matched Hill’s 12 points. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Huskies’ strong performance.

Northern Illinois took charge of the contest with 14:06 remaining in the first half and maintained their lead throughout the game. At halftime, the Huskies were ahead 40-29, with Dent making a strong contribution of 14 points by that stage. The victory marked a significant boost for Northern Illinois, who look to build on this momentum in their forthcoming games.