NIU (8-6, 0-1 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (10-4, 0-1 MAC)
Date / Time: Saturday, January 7, 2017 • 3:30 p.m. CT 
Site: NIU Convocation Center • DeKalb, Ill.
TV: ESPN3
Radio: WLBK 1360-AM, 98.9-FM (DeKalb) • WYLL 1160-AM (Chicago) • TuneIn
Live Stats: NIUHuskies.com 
All-time Series: NIU leads 53-49
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2016 • CMU 76-64

Huskie Quick Hits
• During Mark Montgomery's first five seasons at NIU, the Huskies and Chippewas have split the season series each year. Last season, NIU won in DeKalb, 75-70 (Jan. 19, 2016), before falling in Mt. Pleasant, 76-64 (Feb. 23, 2016). 
• Aaric Armstead is the only player in the Mid-American Conference ranked in the top-30 in scoring (10.9 ppg), top-20 in rebounding (6.0 rpg), top-15 in steals (1.4 spg) and top-15 in blocks (0.9 bpg).
• Levi Bradley grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds at Miami (Jan. 3) while also scoring 11 points to post his fourth career double-double. 
• Aaric Armstead currently has 123 career steals, eighth all-time in school history, four steals behind Kenny Battle (1984-86) for seventh all-time. 
• In NIU's last eight games, Justin Thomas and Eugene German have combined to average 13.8 points per game, shooting 56.6 percent (43-of-76) from the field. 
• Over his last seven games, Dontel Highsmith is shooting 53.1 percent (26-of-49) from the field, averaging 10.3 points per game. 
• NIU also ranks in the top-50 nationally in turnovers forced (35th, 16.0 per game) which has helped the Huskies to a +5.2 margin in points off turnovers this season (17.1-11.9).  
• NIU head coach Mark Montgomery began his coaching career as an assistant at Central Michigan (1997-2001) while Huskie associate head coach Jon Borovich played for the Chippewas during the same four seasons. 

About Central Michigan
• The Chippewas come to DeKalb with a 10-4 overall record, 0-1 in Mid-American Conference play after falling at Eastern Michigan, 85-63, in the league opener. 
• Marcus Keene leads Central Michigan with a nation-best 30.1 points per game. Braylon Rayson also scores in double figures at 17.4 points per contest for the Chippewas who are averaging 89.2 points per game as a team, seventh-best in the country. 
• In addition to leading the MAC in scoring, Central Michigan also leads the conference in free throw percentage (78.1 percent) and three-point field goals made (12.2 per game).
• Keno Davis is in his fifth season as the head coach of Central Michigan, Davis spent one season as head coach at Drake (2007-08) and three seasons at the head coach at Providence (2008-11).

All-time Series with the Chippewas
• NIU leads the all-time series against Central Michigan, 53-49, the Huskies hold a 38-13 edge over the Chippewas in DeKalb.
• During Mark Montgomery's first five seasons at NIU, the Huskies and Chippewas have split the season series each year. Last season, NIU won in DeKalb, 75-70 (Jan. 19, 2016), before falling in Mt. Pleasant, 76-64 (Feb. 23, 2016). 
• The home team has won the last six games in the series, dating back to a 69-50 Central Michigan victory in DeKalb on March 2, 2013. 
• Aaric Armstead is averaging 13.0 points per game in six career games against Central Michigan, including four games in double figures against the Chippewas.