TOLEDO, OH – Toledo saw Northern Illinois score eight straight points in the final minute on Tuesday evening en route to a 71-66 home setback to the Huskies (14-2, 3-0 MAC). The contest featured 15 lead changes and was tied on 12 occasions.

Senior center Nathan Boothe topped UT (10-6, 1-2 MAC) with a career-high 30 points and nine boards. Junior guard Jonathan Williams was the only other Rocket to score in double figures with 21 points.

Senior guard Travon Baker topped NIU with 23 points, including a 5-of-10 showing from behind the three-point arc. Sophomore center Marin Maric also played a big role for the visitors by registering a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards.

Toledo was hampered by a season-high tying 16 turnovers and shot just 40.8 percent from the field and 5-of-18 (27.8) from three-point range. The Huskies notched a 45.0 shooting mark and a 34.8 three-point field-goal percentage.

The Rockets held a significant advantage at the charity stripe, making 21-of-27 attempts (77.8 percent) compared to NIU's 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) totals.

Boothe's layup with 1:24 remaining gave Toledo its last lead, 64-63, prior to the Huskies' 8-0 spurt.

Senior forward Chuks Iroegbu broke free for a layup to put NIU ahead, 65-64, with one minute to play. After Toledo came up empty on its next possession, freshman guard Marshawn Wilson broke free for a layup with the Rockets pressing to put the Huskies up 67-64 with 24.6 seconds left.

UT was called for a travel on its next possession, and NIU hit four straight free throws to seal the win.

The Huskies jumped out to an early 12-5 lead less than five minutes into the matchup thanks to eight points from Baker. Toledo responded with a 9-2 run culminated by a Williams' trey to take a 15-14 advantage.

Wilson then drained back-to-back threes to put NIU up 22-15 but a pair of Boothe free throws evened the score at 22-22 with 4:48 remaining before halftime. Neither team led by more than two points before the Huskies took a 34-32 lead at intermission.

UT scored the first six points of the second half but NIU responded with a 7-0 spurt to lead 41-38 with 16:01 to play.

Toled appeared ready to take control after scoring eight straight points for a 52-46 cushion with 9:32 left. The surge consisted of treys from sophomore Stuckey Mosley and Boothe followed by a pair of free throws from Williams

The Huskies managed to claw back though as Baker hit consecutive three-pointers to knot the score at 57-57 with 5:11 on the clock.

The Rockets return to action on Friday, Jan. 15 with a home matchup vs. Akron (13-3, 2-1 MAC). Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. with the contest being televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network.