BOX SCORE

QUOTES

DeKALB, Ill. -- David Kool scored a season-high 31 points, including 25 in the second half, but Western Michigan couldn't overcome a 14-point halftime deficit, 78-63, in front of 1,394 at Northern Illinois on Wednesday night.

The Broncos (9-18, 6-7 MAC) hit just 2-of-20 field goals in the first half, but rebounded to connect on 16-of-29 (.552) in the second half, but that wasn't enough to offset 12-of-24 three-point shooting by the Huskies (9-17, 4-9 MAC).

Kool, a leading contender for MAC Player of the Year, hit 10-of-19 shots and 10-of-10 at the charity stripe as WMU converted 23-of-27 free throws (.852) as a team. Derek Drews hit a pair of three-pointers to add eight points for WMU.

Kool opened the second half by scoring 14 of WMU's 17 points and pulling WMU within eight, 40-32, with 14:08 remaining in the game. He then picked up his fourth personal foul with 12:41 remaining and came out of the game.

Northern Illinois responded and pushed its lead to 19, 55-36, with 8:04 to go. The Broncos made one more run and cut the lead to nine, 61-52, with 2:57 to play after Kool made a steal and went the distance to score, but NIU hit 10-of-12 free throws in the final 1:50 to hold off the Broncos down the stretch.  

The Huskies opened the game with the first five points before Shawntes Gary hit two free throws with 15:10 to play and WMU didn't hit its first field goal until 8:15 had elapsed and Kool connected on a jumper in the paint. The Broncos hit their only other field goal on a Drews drive with 6:40 remaining in the half. Demetrius Ward followed with two free throws to pull WMU within seven, 19-12, with 5:38 in the half.

Including Ward's, the Broncos would make 5-of-6 free throws to end the half, but no field goals as the Huskies went up by 14, 29-15, at the break.

NIU outrebounded WMU, 42-28, including 13 offensive rebounds. The Broncos picked up 10 steals and forced 17 turnovers, but also committed 15 as they had just a one-point edge, 21-20, in points off turnovers.

Darion Anderson led NIU with 26 points, while Mike DiNunno, Michael Patton and Sean Smith each added 14 points.

The Broncos play their final MAC road game of the season on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Toledo.