DEKALB, Ill. (Interstat) — Makhai Valentine scored 27 points and the Northern Illinois Huskies survived a furious second-half rally and a last-second shot to edge the Massachusetts Minutemen 70-68 in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday.

In a contest defined by turnovers and missed opportunities, the Huskies (6-11, 1-3 MAC) built a commanding 40-33 halftime lead by capitalizing on 13 Massachusetts turnovers, converting them into 24 points. The Minutemen (11-8, 2-2), who entered as heavy favorites, struggled to find any offensive rhythm early, shooting just 33.3% from the floor in the opening period.

Valentine, a guard from Munhall, Pennsylvania, was the catalyst for Northern Illinois. He added three assists and was instrumental in both building the lead and holding off the late charge. His backcourt mate, Gianni Cobb of Chicago, orchestrated the offense with six assists and a game-high four steals, part of a 13-steal effort by the Huskies that fueled their transition game.

The game’s complexion shifted dramatically after halftime. Led by the interior dominance of Leonardo Bettiol, Massachusetts began to chip away at the deficit. Bettiol, a 6-foot-9 forward from Roncade, Italy, scored 19 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, relentlessly attacking the paint. His layup with just over four minutes remaining capped a prolonged Minutemen surge and tied the game at 62.

From there, the teams traded blows in a tense final sequence. With the score knotted at 68, Massachusetts had a chance to take the lead but turned the ball over with 27 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Taj Walters of Northern Illinois was fouled and made the first of two free throws to put the Huskies ahead 69-68 with 29 seconds on the clock. He missed the second, giving the Minutemen a final opportunity.

After a timeout, Massachusetts worked the ball to Bettiol, whose driving layup attempt from the left block rolled off the rim with two seconds remaining. Hassan Washington secured the critical defensive rebound for Northern Illinois and was immediately fouled. Washington, who finished with 11 points, made the first free throw to extend the lead to 70-68 but missed the second.

Massachusetts’s Jayden Ndjigue grabbed the rebound and called timeout with 1.1 seconds left, giving the visitors one final heave from near half-court. The inbound pass found Bettiol, whose turnaround jumper from just inside the three-point line hit the back of the rim as time expired, sealing the Huskies’ upset victory.

Beyond Valentine and Bettiol, other key contributors included Marcus Banks with 16 points for Massachusetts and K’Jei Parker with 15. For Northern Illinois, Washington’s 11 points and seven rebounds provided crucial support, while Gustav Winther of Roskilde, Denmark, added seven points off the bench.

The statistical sheet underscored a sloppy, defensive struggle. Both teams shot under 40% from the field, with Northern Illinois at 36.2% and Massachusetts at 38.5%. The Huskies’ decisive advantage came from points off turnovers, outscoring the Minutemen 24-8 in that category. Massachusetts also hurt itself at the free-throw line, making 21 of 30 attempts, including several key misses down the stretch.

The Huskies’ win snapped a three-game losing streak and provided a bright spot in a difficult season. For Massachusetts, the loss halted a two-game winning streak and served as a stark reminder of the perils of conference play on the road. The Minutemen will look to rebound quickly as they host Toledo on Tuesday. Northern Illinois travels to face Ohio on the same night.