NIU (12-7, 4-2 MAC) vs. Kent State (10-9, 2-4 MAC)
Date / Time: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 • 7 p.m. 
Site: NIU Convocation Center • DeKalb, Ill.
TV: ESPN3
Radio: WLBK 1360-AM, 98.9-FM (DeKalb) • TuneIn
Live Stats: NIUHuskies.com 
All-time Series: Kent State leads 35-20
Last Meeting: Jan. 10, 2017 • NIU 74-70 (ot)

Huskie Quick Hits
• During conference play, Marin Maric is one of just two players in the MAC averaging a double-double (along with Toledo's Steve Taylor Jr.). Maric is averaging 13.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in league play. 
• NIU has had at least four players score in double figures in five of its first six conference games, with seven different players reaching double figures in league play. 
• Over the last 11 games, Highsmith is averaging 10.3 points per game while shooting 47.5 percent (38-of-80) from the field, 38.2 percent (13-of-34) from three and 80 percent (24-of-30) from the free-throw line. 
• NIU ranks in the top-25 nationally in turnovers forced (23rd, 16.4 per game) which has helped the Huskies to a +4.8 margin in points off turnovers this season (17.6 -12.8). 
• The recent series between NIU and Kent State have been defined by close games. The last six games have been decided by a total of 19 points, which includes a nine-point overtime win by Kent State on Jan. 15, 2014 and this season's four-point NIU overtime win (Jan. 10, 2017). None of the other four games have been decided by more than two points.
• The Huskies are the third-least experienced team in the MAC according to KenPom (1.39 years of experience per minute played). That mark is 282nd in the country. Western Michigan is 298th at 1.27 and Miami is 323rd at 1.13. 
• NIU has 62 wins over the last four seasons going back to the beginning of the 2013-14 campaign, the best four-year stretch for the Huskies since winning 64 between 1992-93 and 1995-96.

About Kent State
• The Golden Flashes come to DeKalb with a 10-9 overall record, 2-4 in Mid-American Conference play. Kent State beat Toledo, 85-61, on Saturday night (Jan. 21) in Kent, Ohio.
• Three players are scoring in double figures for Kent State, led by Jimmy Hall who averages a double-double with 18.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Jaylin Walker (14.9 ppg) and Deon Edwin (12.9 ppg) also score in double figures for the Golden Flashes. 
• Kent State leads the MAC in both rebounding offense (42.1 rpg) and rebounding margin, pulling down 7.8 more rebounds per game than its opponents. 

All-time Series with the Golden Flashes
• Kent State holds a 35-20 advantage in the all-time series with NIU, including a narrow 14-13 edge all-time in DeKalb. The Huskies won the previous meeting this season, 74-70, in overtime at Kent State. 
• The recent series between NIU and Kent State have been defined by close games. The last six games have been decided by a total of 19 points, which includes a nine-point overtime win by Kent State on Jan. 15, 2014 and this season's four-point NIU overtime win (Jan. 10, 2017). None of the other four games have been decided by more than two points.
• In the first meeting this season, the Golden Flashes led by as much as 13 in the second half before the Huskies pulled even late in regulation to force overtime. 
• A pair of free throws from Levi Bradley opened the scoring in overtime as NIU took its first lead of the night, the Huskies never trailed in the extra session. 
• Marin Maric led NIU with 19 points and 11 rebounds wihle Jaylin Walker scored a game-high 22 points to pace Kent State. 
• Kris Brewer made a pair of free throws with 15 seconds to play to give Kent State a 67-65 victory in its last visit to DeKalb (Jan. 20, 2015). The win snapped a then school-record tying 11-game home win streak for NIU.