Northern Illinois beats Division III Rockford 93-54

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DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Lacey James scored 17 points, Jaylen Key added 15 and Northern Illinois beat Division III Rockford 93-54 on Tuesday night in a season opener.

Key, who missed all of last season with an injury, made 7 of 9 shots and grabbed eight rebounds.

Noah McCarty chipped in with 14 points for Northern Illinois, which outrebounded Rockford 39-23. Levi Bradley had nine points and nine rebounds, moving within 17 points of 1,000 for his career. The Huskies host defending Horizon League champion Northern Kentucky on Friday night.

NIU shot 60 percent in the first half, led 41-25, and finished at 61.7 percent.

Tony Diemer, who averaged 18 points a game last year, led Rockford with 12 points. The Regents turned it over 24 times, leading to 25 points, and shot 35 percent. Rockford's bench was outscored 48-29.

Last season, the Huskies defeated the Regents 105-53.