DEKALB, Ill. (Interstat) — Ohio built a commanding halftime lead and withstood a second-half surge to defeat Northern Illinois 74-66 in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Convocation Center. The Bobcats led 37-25 at halftime before the Huskies rallied with 41 second-half points. Ohio’s defense proved decisive, forcing 14 turnovers and converting them into 22 points. Javan Simmons led Ohio with 23 points and seven rebounds. Aidan Hadaway added a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Makhai Valentine scored 15 points for Northern Illinois. The Bobcats improved to 14-13 overall, while the Huskies fell to 9-17. Attendance was 1,245.

DEKALB, Ill. (Interstat) — Javan Simmons scored 23 points and Ohio used a dominant first half to build a cushion that withstood a furious Northern Illinois rally, securing a 74-66 victory in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Convocation Center. The Bobcats (14-13, 8-6 MAC) led by as many as 18 points in the opening period and took a 37-25 lead into halftime. The Huskies (9-17, 5-9) surged after the break, cutting the deficit to just two points on multiple occasions, but could never draw even as Ohio made enough key plays down the stretch to complete a regular-season sweep. The most critical phase of the game was unquestionably the opening 15 minutes, where Ohio’s defensive pressure and offensive efficiency established a commanding lead that ultimately proved insurmountable. The Bobcats forced nine first-half turnovers, converting them into 12 points, and held Northern Illinois to just 9-of-26 shooting from the floor before the break. Ohio opened the game on a 9-0 run, highlighted by an early steal and free throws from Jackson Paveletzke, and never trailed. The Huskies’ offense, which entered the contest with the nation’s 320th-ranked adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom, was stifled by active hands and poor decision-making, managing only 25 points in the first 20 minutes. Simmons, a 6-foot-7 forward from Columbus, Ohio, was the focal point, adding seven rebounds, two assists and three blocks to his game-high 23 points. His interior presence on both ends helped Ohio to a 38-36 edge in points in the paint and a 44-30 rebounding advantage. Aidan Hadaway posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Paveletzke contributed 14 points and six assists. Northern Illinois mounted its comeback behind improved shooting and ball security in the second half, outscoring Ohio 41-37. The Huskies shot 61.5% from the field after halftime and trimmed the Bobcats’ lead to 51-49 on a Taj Walters layup with 10:10 remaining. Each time the Huskies threatened, however, Ohio answered. A driving layup by Simmons and a three-pointer from Ajay Sheldon, who finished with nine points, helped push the lead back to seven. The Huskies made one final push, closing to 66-64 on a Gianni Cobb layup with 37 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Paveletzke was fouled and made one of two free throws. After a Northern Illinois miss, Paveletzke was fouled again and hit both attempts to extend the lead to five with 19 seconds left, effectively sealing the game. Makhai Valentine led Northern Illinois with 15 points. Dylan Ducommun and Gianni Cobb each scored 13, with Cobb adding five assists. Walters finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. The Huskies’ effort was hampered by 14 turnovers, which Ohio converted into 22 points, and a stark disadvantage at the free-throw line, where they made just 6 of 12 attempts compared to Ohio’s 16-of-24 performance. Ohio’s offensive rating of 116.7 points per 100 possessions underscored its efficient afternoon, while Northern Illinois managed just 97.5. The Bobcats also dominated the hustle categories, recording 10 steals and four blocks while assisting on 10 of their 26 made field goals. The Huskies had only four assists as a team. The announced attendance was 1,245. Ohio improved to 3-1 in its last four games, while Northern Illinois dropped its third straight. According to pregame analytics, Ohio was projected with a 74.7% probability to win and entered as a 5.5-point favorite. The combined score of 140 fell under the over/under line of 147.5. Ohio next hosts Toledo on Feb. 28. Northern Illinois travels to face Toledo on Tuesday.

DEKALB, Ill. (Interstat) — A pair of Mid-American Conference men’s basketball teams looking to build momentum will meet Saturday when the Ohio Bobcats visit the Northern Illinois Huskies at the Convocation Center. Ohio (13-13) enters on the heels of a 69-57 home victory over Ball State on Tuesday, which snapped a two-game skid. Northern Illinois (9-16) is also coming off a win, having edged Buffalo 72-70 on the road Tuesday. The matchup features two of the conference’s top guards in a rematch of a Jan. 20 thriller, which Ohio won 80-77 in Athens. Bobcats guard Jackson Paveletzke has been a dynamic force, averaging 16.9 points and 6.6 assists over his last seven games. He scored 18 points with six assists in the win over Ball State and poured in 22 points at Miami (Ohio) on Feb. 13. In the first meeting with NIU, Paveletzke had 16 points and four assists. He will be matched by Huskies guard Gianni Cobb, who is averaging 12.7 points per game this season. Cobb is coming off a 23-point performance in the win at Buffalo and scored 17 points in a loss at Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 31. The Bobcats have shown a potent offense, scoring 91 and 95 points in wins over Western Michigan and Buffalo, respectively, late last month. However, consistency has been an issue, as evidenced by recent road losses at Miami and Old Dominion. Northern Illinois has struggled for wins but has been competitive at home in conference play, notching victories over Western Michigan and Massachusetts in DeKalb in January. The Huskies’ defense will be tested by an Ohio team that shot effectively in the first matchup. Following this game, Ohio will host Toledo on Feb. 28. Northern Illinois travels to face Toledo on Tuesday before hosting Ball State next Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST.