Dec. 2, 2011 
Nebraska Omaha Game Notes 
Northern Illinois Huskies (0-6, 0-0 MAC) vs. Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (2-5)
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011
Tipoff: 3 p.m. CT
Location: NIU Convocation Center • DeKalb, Ill.
Radio: WLBK 1360-AM in DeKalb and WSCR 670-AM in Chicago.
Live Stats: NIUHuskies.com
The Match-Up
NIU returns home after a two-game road trip to host Nebraska Omaha. The Huskies will begin a stretch in which they play six of their next seven games at home and do not leave the State of Illinois again until January 11. Saturday’s contest will be the first-ever between NIU and Nebraska Omaha.
About Nebraska Omaha
The Mavericks come to DeKalb with a 2-5 record. Nebraska Omaha is led offensively by Mitch Albers, who is averaging 19.4 points per game. Albers is one of four Mavericks in double figures for a team that is scoring 76.6 points per contest. Derrin Hansen is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Mavericks and has a career record of 112-73. Nebraska Omaha is in the process of transitioning to NCAA Division I and will be a member of the Summit League in 2012-13.
Against the Mavericks
Northern Illinois and Nebraska Omaha will be meeting for the first time on Saturday.
There’s No Place Like Home
Beginning with Saturday’s contest against Nebraska Omaha, NIU will begin a very friendly December in which the Huskies leave the NIU Convocation Center just once. The Huskies are playing six of their next seven in DeKalb, with the lone exception being a 65-mile trip to UIC next Saturday (Dec. 10). NIU will not leave the State of Illinois again until Wednesday, Jan. 11, when it plays its first conference road game at Western Michigan.
Huskies Getting Defensive
Northern Illinois has held its last three opponents under their season scoring output by an average of 10 points. NIU held Eastern Illinois to 67 points, 11 below its season average, held Boise State to 71 points, 15 points below its season average and held Utah Valley to just 58 points, six below its season average.
Nader Swipes and Swats
Last time out against Utah Valley (Nov. 28), Abdel Nader recorded three steals, his second three steal game of the young season. In addition to his steals, Nader has also recorded at least one block in five-of-six games this season. Nader currently leads the Huskies in both blocks and steals; he is also tied for 11th in the MAC in blocks per game.
Bench Production
With the exception of road games at Purdue and Iowa, the NIU bench has outscored the opposition’s bench in the other four games this season. The Huskie substitutes have outscored opponents by an average of almost eight points per game.
Looking Ahead
Northern Illinois will play its lone road game in the month of December next Saturday, Dec. 10, when the Huskies travel to UIC. Game time against the Flames is scheduled for 3 p.m.
