DeKalb, Ill. - Northern Illinois looks to get back on the winning track on Tuesday night, as the Huskies welcome the Buffalo Bulls to the NIU Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
The Huskies are coming off of a 73-55 defeat at the hands of MAC East-leading Ohio on Saturday (Feb. 2). Junior forward Sean Smith led the Huskies with 19 points, while freshman guard Darion Anderson chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds. Anderson leads the Huskies in scoring with 10.1 points-per-game.
Buffalo hopes to rebound from a pair of consecutive double-overtime losses, including Saturday's 100-96 defeat at the hands of Central Michigan. Bulls' guard Andy Robinson, who is averaging a team-best 11.9 points-per-game, led four UB players in double-figures with 22 points against the Chippewas.
All-Time Series: Northern Illinois holds a 13-8 lead over the Bulls in their all-time series.
The Last Time: Buffalo forward Yassin Idbihi posted 10 of his career-high 26 points over the final 7:13 of the second half to lead a 21-11 UB run, as the host Bulls came-from-behind to earn the 80-74 MAC victory over Northern Illinois on February 3, 2007. NIU senior center James Hughes topped the Huskies with 20 points.
From The Charity Stripe: NIU junior forward Sean Smith is the league's best free throw shooter in conference play, as the Gary, Indiana native has connected on all 14 of his charity tosses.
Scorin' And Passin': Freshman guard Darion Anderson currently leads the Huskies in both scoring (10.1 ppg.) and assists (2.5 apg.). The last player to do that in NIU history was Mike Lipnisky (13.9 ppg., 2.2 apg.) during the 1992-93 campaign.
Injury Report: Senior swingman Ben Rand (plantar facsciitis) and junior guard Jarvis Nichols (left foot) are both game-time decisions.
Bracketbuster: Northern Illinois will host Tennessee State in the sixth annual O'Reilly Bracketbusters Event on Sunday, February 24 at the NIU Convocation Center. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. (CST).
Block Party: After recording just four blocks in Northern Illinois' first 12 games, senior forward Michael Hart has collected 11 swats in the Huskies last eight contests.
Like Father, Like Son: NIU head coach Ricardo Patton is one of 13 coaches across America, whose son is playing for his squad. Michael Patton is a freshman point guard for the Huskies, who is averaging 6.6 points-per-game.
Home Court Advantage: The Huskies have turned up the defensive pressure at the NIU Convocation Center this season, as Northern Illinois is holding opponents to 63.1 points-per-game.
Recruiting Class: NIU head coach Ricardo Patton has inked four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, including guards Mike Dinunno (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben), Bryan Hall (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), Dominique Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Southwest Tennessee C.C.) and forward Tyler Storm (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo) to play for the Huskies in 2008.
Welcome Back Jake: Since his return to the starting line-up, freshman guard Darion Anderson is averaging 13.3 points-per-game in NIU's last four contests. Anderson is also the only player in the MAC that is ranked in the top 10 in both rebounding (6.5, 9th) and assists (2.88, t-10th) in conference play.
Are You Experienced?: Of NIU's 11 active players, the Huskies have seven student-athletes who are in their first season of Division I basketball.
Fine Freshman: Huskie guard Darion Anderson is second among MAC freshmen in scoring (as of Feb. 2), as he is averaging 10.1 points-per-game. Bowling Green's Chris Knight tops the MAC with 11.3 points-per-game.
Freshman `20': With his 20 point performance against Western Michigan on January 5, guard Michael Patton became NIU's second freshman this season, joining Darion Anderson (23 points, Indiana State, Nov. 20; 22 points, Central Michigan, Jan. 19), to reach the 20-point plateau. The last time NIU had two freshmen each score at least 20 points in a game during a season was during the 1973-74 campaign, when both Carroll Holmes and Ricky Hicks each accomplished that feat.
From Long Range: NIU freshman guard Michael Patton has knocked down 23 three-pointers this season, the most by a freshman since teammate Zach Pancratz had 28 during the 2004-05 campaign.
Paradise Lost: NIU senior guard Ryan Paradise announced on January 11 that he would hang up his No. 10 jersey due to the pain from the numerous injuries that he has sustained throughout his tenure as a Huskie.
Blazin' Bench: The NIU bench outscored the Huskie starters 41-22 in the 77-63 loss to Central Michigan on Saturday (Jan. 18), marking the seventh time this season, the most in NIU Division I history, that the reserves have accomplished that feat. As a team, NIU's bench is averaging 26.8 points-per-game.
Time Change: Tip-off for Northern Illinois' contest against Akron on February 12 has been changed from 6 p.m. (CST) to 7 p.m. (CST).
Lost Long Range: Senior Zach Pancratz is sitting out the 2007-08 season after undergoing left shoulder surgery to correct continued instability in his non-shooting arm. Last season, Pancratz led NIU with 51 trifectas.
Up Next: Northern Illinois returns to the road on Saturday, February 9, as the Huskies take on MAC East leading Kent State. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. (CST).
