Huskies Face Fiery Setback Against Ohio in Athens Showdown

ATHENS, Ohio – AJ Clayton netted 31 points as Ohio defeated the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball squad, 108-70, on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 11) at the Ohio Convocation Center. The Bobcats connected on 61.7 percent (37-of-60) from the floor during the match, including 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from beyond the arc. 

Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) topped the Huskies with 25 points, alongside eight rebounds and five assists. Quaran McPherson (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y./Link Year Prep) contributed 14 points while James Dent Jr. (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) and Nasir Muhammad (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) both added twelve each.

Both sides started strongly offensively with Ohio leading 18-16 with 13:24 remaining in the opening half as Jones spearheaded the charge for NIU with six points in the initial six-plus minutes. 

The Bobcats’ edge was 22-19 when a seven-point run extended their lead to ten for the home side, 29-19, with slightly over 11 minutes remaining in the first half. 

Ohio’s margin grew to twelve, 47-35, with just over three minutes left in the opening half before the Bobcats concluded the half with a 10-4 surge, taking a 57-39 advantage into halftime. 

Jones recorded 11 points and Dent added 10 in the first 20 minutes for NIU. Clayton scored 18 points for Ohio, leading all scorers, while Jackson Paveletzke had 13 points. The Bobcats shot 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the field in the first half, including 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from three-point range. NIU shot 43.8 percent (14-of-32) in the first half, with 40 percent (6-of-15) coming from three-point territory. 

Following the intermission, the Huskie offense cooled down as NIU managed just 34.3 percent (12-of-35) shooting from the field during the second half, while Ohio maintained their momentum, shooting 53.1 percent (17-of-32) post-halftime, including 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from three.   

Alongside Clayton’s 31 points, four additional Bobcats reached double-digit scoring as Paveletzke tallied 19, Shereef Mitchell accumulated 15 points, Elijah Elliott contributed 10, while Aidan Hadaway added 10 points along with a game-high 11 rebounds. 

Ohio tallied 25 assists on its 37 field goals and out-rebounded NIU, 46-28. 

NIU will return to their home court for two games next week, hosting Miami on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 18. Tickets for both games can be purchased now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.