Through nine games this season, defense carried Northern Illinois to an 8-1 start.
In Game 10 Saturday, the Huskies` offense got a 10.
They hit 14 of 19 shots in the second half, pulling away to a 75-64 victory over Northern Iowa before a crowd of 4,098 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Freshman guard Mike Lipnisky, who missed a practice last week due to illness and didn`t start Saturday, canned three straight shots to give Northern (9-1, 2-0 in the Mid-Continent) a 39-33 lead with 15 minutes 29 seconds remaining. The Huskies gradually increased the lead to as many as 14 points en route to their eighth straight victory.
”I was really satisfied that we won the game with our offense,” said NIU coach Jim Molinari. ”I thought we executed well and you have to give credit to the guards. They penetrated well and dished the ball off well. Lipnisky, (Mark) Layton, (Donald) Whiteside, it didn`t matter who it was.”
Lipnisky finished with 14 points, three assists and seven rebounds. Whiteside added 14 points, 10 in the second half, and senior forward Donnell Thomas led the way with 22 points, 15 coming in the first half when the Huskies opened a 31-28 lead.
”I think you saw the type of play from Mike Lipnisky that can be expected throughout his career,” said Molinari. ”You can`t pressure him. If you do, he`ll make you pay.”
Dale Turner led Northern Iowa (4-9, 1-1) with 21 points and five rebounds. Troy Muilenberg added 15 points and nine rebounds.
