It`s nights like Saturday that finally may convince naysayers that defense, not offense, wins basketball games.
Case in point: Northern Illinois` victory at Akron. The Huskies` two leading scorers, Donnell Thomas and Donald Whiteside, combined for nine points and the team managed but 48. Akron almost had more turnovers (21) than points (30).
Obviously, NIU`s offense isn`t the greatest. Its defense is special.
The Huskies (14-2, 5-1) rank third in the nation in defense, allowing opponents just 56.4 points a game heading into Monday`s Mid-Continent showdown at Cleveland State (9-7, 5-2).
Since Jim Molinari was named coach at NIU on April 28, 1989, he has preached defense. The Huskies won 17 games his first season, but many people didn`t believe in his style and were turned off by low-scoring games.
But there`s something about winning consistently that turns people`s heads. And the Huskies have done that en route to grabbing a share of the Mid- Continent lead with Wisconsin-Green Bay.
One of Molinari`s main ballhawkers, junior guard-forward Mike Hidden, played a big role on offense Saturday. He scored all 12 of his points in the second half when the Huskies led by as much as 44-18.
”He did an outstanding job, ran the offense,” said Molinari.
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Hidden, Andrew Wells, Antwon Harmon, Donald Whiteside and Mike Lipnisky were on the floor when NIU put the game away with a 17-0 run.
”That fivesome played as good a stretch as anyone all year,” said Molinari.