March 1, 2003

Final Stats| Notes

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) - Jay Bates scored 18 points and Northern Illinois controlled the inside Saturday to beat Toledo, 85-75, for the Huskies' 15th victory.

The Huskies (15-11, 11-5 Mid-American Conference) had a 39-25 rebounding edge behind 11 apiece from Marcus Smallwood and Jamel Staten.

Smallwood and P.J. Smith also scored 17 points each for Northern, which shot 59 percent (17-for-29) in the second half to pull away after leading by three at intermission. Northern also had a 40-22 edge in points in the paint.

Keith Triplett scored 29 points and Nick Moore 17 for Toledo (11-15, 5-11). Triplett made five of Toledo's 12 3-pointers that kept the Rockets close and also led the team with six rebounds while equalling his career highs with five assists and five steals.

Toledo started strong in the contest and took a 26-16 lead with 5:45 to play in the first half. However, NIU went on a 13-0 run to end the half and scored the first six points of the second stanza to take a 35-26 lead with 18:43 to play. The closest the Rockets would come the remainder of the contest was 45-40 with 13:46 to play.

UT will return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 5 with its final regular-season home game vs. Ball State (13-14, 8-8 MAC). The contest will be the final home game for Rocket seniors Milo Kirsh and Nick Moore.