Northern Illinois beats Cal State Northridge 83-71

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) Marshawn Wilson scored 16 points off the bench to lead Northern Illinois to an 83-71 win over Cal State Northridge in a season opener Friday night.

Austin Pauga and Jaylen Key had 15 points apiece for the Huskies. Laytwan Porter scored 11 points and Travon Baker added 10 points with five assists and four rebounds. The team hit 44.4 percent from the field overall and 70.6 percent from the line.

Wilson, Pauga, Porter, Baker and Michael Orris combined for eight 3-pointers in the first half to help move Northern Illinois to a 46-40 lead at the break.

CS Northridge pulled to within one point, 63-62, on a Tavrion Dawson layup with 8:20 left to play. Less than a minute later, Pauga sank another from distance to make it 68-62 and the Huskies cruised to the win from there.

Dawson finished with 18 points and six rebounds for the Matadors.