Once again they were never really in this game; they got as close as five points in the second half but were mostly down double digits. Sam Mader led NIU with 15 points on seven shots.

One item of note: Abdel Nader was warming up with the NIU team, which was a huge deal apparently; but he did not get into this game, so we're still waiting for the Huskies' top player by ability to see action this season.

Also of note: Hayden Humes scored 18 points for the Flames. You may remember him as a former Toledo Rockets hustle-forward who transferred to UIC after one of the earlier APR penalties cost UT a scholarship, leaving him the odd man out. Then when a scholarship opened up because a Rockets recruit saw his career end due to a heart condition, it was too late.