The Northern Illinois University Huskies basketball team put on a dominating performance in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament to secure their spot in the Final Four. The Huskies defeated the University of Michigan Wolverines by a score of 85-68 to advance to the next round.
The first half of the game was a back-and-forth battle. Both teams traded baskets and the score was tied at 35-35 at halftime. However, the Huskies came out of the locker room with guns blazing in the second half. Led by senior guards Jordan Threethree and Xavier Smith, the Huskies went on a 21-5 run to open up a commanding lead.
Michigan tried to make a comeback, but the Huskies were just too strong. Northern Illinois’ defense held the Wolverines to just 39% shooting from the field and forced 12 turnovers. Threethree and Smith each scored 25 points in the game, with Threethree also grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists.
The win secured the Huskies’ spot in the Final Four for the first time in school history. Head coach Mark Montgomery was proud of his team’s performance, saying, “We knew coming into this game that Michigan was a tough opponent, but we stayed focused and played our game. Our seniors stepped up and led the way for us.”
The Huskies will now face off against the Syracuse University Orange in the Final Four. Syracuse has been a dominant force in the tournament, but the Huskies are confident they can pull off the upset. Threethree said, “We’ve been working hard all season for this moment. We’re not going to let anything get in our way.”
Northern Illinois has become the Cinderella story of the tournament, with many fans rooting for the underdog team to go all the way. The Huskies’ journey to the Final Four has been a wild ride, but they are determined to keep it going. The Final Four game against Syracuse promises to be an exciting matchup, and fans can expect the Huskies to leave it all on the court.