DeKalb, IL – Abdi Bashir Jr. scored a career-best 25 points, but Monmouth University Men's Basketball was defeated by Northern Illinois University Tuesday at NIU Convocation Center, 79-66.
 
Trailing by 17 early in the second, MU went on a 7-0 run, with a Cornelius Robinson III layup making it a 10-point margin. Three Justin Ray free throws made it a 10-point game again in the closing minutes, but the Hawks got no closer, falling by 13.
 
Bashir's three at 12:43 of the first gave Monmouth a 15-14 lead, and the sophomore made two in a row later in the period to put the Hawks up four. A Justin Ray turnaround made it 28-24 at 5:23, and MU led with three minutes to go in the first half, but the Huskies closed on a 10-0 run to lead 42-34 at the break.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Disappointing night for us. We have to get better. We'll get home and get back to work." – Head Coach King Rice
 
-Abdi Bashir scored a career-high 25 points.
-Madison Durr notched double figures for the third game in a row to open his MU career.
-Justin Ray scored in double digits for the second time in three games to open his career.
-Monmouth dropped its first game ever to a MAC opponent.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
 
-Monmouth outrebounded NIU, 43-37.
-MU was better in second-chance points, 16-5.
-The Hawks had 18 offensive rebounds on the night.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth visits in-state foe #24 Rutgers on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. That game will air on the Big Ten Network, and on the radio via the Monmouth Digital Network.