NIU holds off Illinois Tech 73-66 behind Bradley's 18 points

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DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Levi Bradley scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Eugene German added 17 points with five assists and Northern Illinois made 18 free throws in holding off Division III-member Illinois Tech 73-66 on Saturday.

Dante Thorpe added 13 points for the Huskies (2-1), who shot 46 percent to the Scarlet Hawks' 41 percent but made only 3-of-18 3-pointers.

Illinois Tech closed to 49-44 on Max Hisatake's layup with 9:01 left to play, but the Huskies scored 10 straight for a 61-46 lead with 5:20 left. Illinois Tech rallied again, closing to 69-64 on Anthony Mosely Jr.'s 3 with 31 seconds left, but Thorpe and Bradley combined for four free throws from there to seal it.

Mosley's jumper tied it at 8-all, but Bradley's back-to-back layups sparked an 11-2 run and the Huskies led 19-10 and 37-23 at halftime.

Mosley scored 20 points with six assists and Hisatake had 18 points with 13 rebounds and five assists for Illinois Tech.