BG MBB blows past NIU. What happens next?

The MBB team got itself a win that it really needed last night in DeKalb, cruising past the Huskies 68-52 in a game that actually wasn't even that close.  The last MAC bus ride home from NIU was a pleasant one.

NIU led for :17.  The Falcons had an early 12-0 run to go up 12-2.  In the first 10 minutes, BG got stops on seven straight possessions two times.  And then capped the half off on a 13-2 run to lead 38-19.  In the second half, the lead never got closer than 14 and was as high as 25.

NIU is a bad team, but beating them this easily represented an effective outcome.  BG now needs to be more consistent and get a few of these in a row.

Defense was the difference.  BG held NIU to .75 points per possession, a winning number.  BG has not lost at that defensive level in the KenPom era (1997).  It was BG's 3rd-best D1 performance this year and best in MAC play.

Their EFG was 36%, best in BG's MAC play. That was 44% and 19%. They only got to the line 15 times...and BG did a great job on the defensive boards, holding them to 17%...they came in #3 in the MAC. NIU took decent care of the ball.

Remembering they are the worst offensive team in the MAC. But we did what you should do to a bad offensive team...made them even worse.

BG went the whole way in the MESH zone that seems to work for them.  Last year we did the same thing...went from throwing a zone out there once in a while to using it all or almost all the time.  It certainly had NIU flummoxed.

BG had only .98 points per possession, their worst winning number this year.  BG shot decently at 54.6%, making 58% (good) and 31% (not good) on a heavily 2FG shot mix. But, BG had 22% turnovers, their 3rd straight game over 20%. They were poor on the offensive boards and only took 11FTs, making 9.

Mayar Wol might be breaking out of a terrible shooting slump.  He led the team with 15 points on 3 of 5 and 3 of 4 shooting with 4 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.

Javonte Campbell had 13, shooting 5 of 8 and 1 of 2, 2-2 at the line, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers.

Justin Thomas had 10...his first double-digit scoring D1 game since William and Mary. He shot 4 of 6 from 2FG, made 2-2 at the line, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals with no turnovers.  He has been injured and doesn't need to score to help the team.  He just has a stabilizing effect.  He was +24 in 27 minutes.

Troy Glover had 5 first-half blocks...he struggled to score but was +23 in 17 minutes.  Towns had 8 points and 9 rebounds. Goins had 8 points with 3 of 6 2FG shooting in 15 minutes, though it remains tough to watch.

So, the tests are coming up.  UT at home...a chance to right that wrong. Kent and @MU follow.  We have shown ourselves to be capable on competing against both...but it needs to happen.