NIU (7-5) vs. Illinois Springfield (5-6)
Date / Time: Saturday, December 31, 2016 • 3:30 p.m. CT
Site: NIU Convocation Center • DeKalb, Ill. 
TV: none
Radio: WLBK 1360-AM, 98.9-FM (DeKalb) • TuneIn
Live Stats: NIUHuskies.com 
All-time Series: first meeting

Huskie Quick Hits
• During NIU's current three-game winning streak, Levi Bradley is averaging 10.0 points per game, shooting 52.2 percent (12-of-23) from the field. Bradley recorded his third career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds at South Florida (Dec. 20). 
• The Huskies currently rank 24th in the nation in turnovers forced as their opponents are committing 16.6 turnovers per game. NIU is also ranked 44th nationally in three-point field goal defense, holding opponents to just 30.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. 
• Aaric Armstead currently has 119 career steals, ninth all-time in school history. Armstead is three behind Mike Lipnisky (1990-95) for eighth in Huskie history. 
• Over his last five games, Dontel Highsmith is shooting 58.8 percent (20-of-34) from the field, including 41.7 percent (5-of-12) from three, averaging 11.2 points per game. 

About Illinois Springfield
• The Prairie Stars come to DeKalb with a 5-6 overall record and are playing their first game since a 92-79 setback at Glenville State on Dec. 16. 
• Illinois Springfield has four players scoring in double figures, led by Zach Steinberg who is averaging a double-double with 16.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Eddie Longmeyer (14.8 ppg), Vince Walker (10.9 ppg) and Paxton Harmon (10.8) are also scoring in double figures for UIS. 
• The Prairie Stars are ranked 25th in the nation in NCAA Division II for defensive rebounds per game, pulling down 29.2 per contest; Zach Steinberg ranks seventh individually in the nation with 7.8 defensive rebounds per game.  
• Illinois Springfield is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the Prairie Stars were picked to finish sixth in the Preseason GLVC Poll. 
• Bill Walker is in his third season as head coach at Illinois Springfield. Walker came to UIS following a season as an assistant at Drake; he also spent time as an assistant at Texas A&M and Minnesota. 

All-time Series with the Prairie Stars
• Saturday's contest will be the first meeting between NIU and Illinois Springfield. 

Success in the Sunshine 
• NIU closed the road portion of its non-conference schedule with a pair of wins in the Sunshine State, downing Florida International, 60-53, on Dec. 17, before topping South Florida, 59-48, on Dec. 20. 
• The two victories were NIU's first in consecutive road games since winning at UIC (Dec. 29, 2015) and Toledo (Jan. 12, 2016) in consecutive road contests last season (with three home games in between).
• It marked the first time the Huskies had won back-to-back games on the road (no home games in between) since the 2013-14 season when NIU won at Kent State (Jan. 29) and then claimed victory three days later at Ball State (Feb. 1). 
• Dontel Highsmith led the way for the Huskies in Florida, averaging 14.5 points per game, including a 23-point effort at FIU. Highsmith went 10-of-17 from the field in Florida (58.8 percent) and 6-of-7 from the foul line (85.7 percent). 
• Defensively, the Huskies held the Panthers and Bulls to a combined 33.3 percent shooting (36-of-108), including 23.5 percent (8-of-34) from three. NIU forced 33 total turnovers between the two games while holding FIU and USF to just 50.5 points per game.