NIU (9-6, 1-1 MAC) at Kent State (9-6, 1-1 MAC)
Date / Time: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 • 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET)
Site: M.A.C. Center • Kent, Ohio
Video: KentStateSports.com
Radio: WLBK 1360-AM, 98.9-FM (DeKalb) • WYLL 1160-AM (Chicago) • TuneIn
Live Stats: KentStateSports.com 
All-time Series: Kent State leads 35-19
Last Meeting: Feb. 9, 2016 • KSU 75-74

Huskie Quick Hits
• The recent series between NIU and Kent State have been defined by close games. The last five games have been decided by a total of 15 points, which include a nine-point overtime win by Kent State on Jan. 15, 2014. None of the other four games have been decided by more than two points. 
• Aaric Armstead is the only player in the Mid-American Conference to rank in the top-20 in rebounding as well as the top-15 in both steals and blocks.
• Justin Thomas is averaging one turnover for every 66 minutes played this season, and has the 16th-best turnover rate of any player in the nation according to KenPom, fourth-best nationally among freshmen.  
• Dontel Highsmith, who had never played in a conference game before this season, scored in double figures in each of NIU's first two league games, netting 10 points at Miami (Jan. 3) and 16 points against Central Michigan (Jan. 7). 
• Marin Maric is currently averaging 13.5 points per game, tied for 19th in the MAC. He is shooting 55.3 percent (78-of-141) from the field to rank fifth in the conference. 
• The Huskies are the third-least experienced team in the MAC according to KenPom (1.40 years of experience per minute played). That mark is 284th in the country. Western Michigan is 303rd at 1.27 and Miami is 325th at 1.10.
• Each of NIU's last two trips to Kent State have been one-point games, with the Huskies earning a 50-49 win on Jan. 29, 2014 and the Golden Flashes claiming a 75-74 win on Feb. 9, 2016.

About Kent State
• The Golden Flashes bring a 9-6 overall record, 1-1 in Mid-American Conference play, into Tuesday's contest after opening league play last week with a home win over Ball State and a road loss at Ohio.
• Kent State has three players scoring in double figures, led by Jimmy Hall who is averaging a double-double with 17.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Jaylin Walker (14.8 ppg) and Deon Edwin (11.8 ppg) also score in double figures for the Flashes. 
• Kent State is the leading rebounding team in the MAC, averaging 44.1 rebounds per contest while holding a league-best +9.5 rebounding margin, which also ranks 10th nationally.
• The Golden Flashes are 6-1 at home this season and have reached the 100-point plateau three times at home, including in their conference opener against Ball State. 

All-time Series with the Golden Flashes
• Kent State holds a 35-19 advantage in the all-time series with NIU, including a 19-6 edge all-time in Kent. The Golden Flashes have won the last two games in the series, and three of the last four. 
• The recent series between NIU and Kent State have been defined by close games. The last five games have been decided by a total of 15 points, which include a nine-point overtime win by Kent State on Jan. 15, 2014. None of the other four games have been decided by more than two points. 
• Each of NIU's last two trips to Kent State have been one-point games, with the Huskies earning a 50-49 win on Jan. 29, 2014 and the Golden Flashes claiming a 75-74 win on Feb. 9, 2016.
• In last season's meeting, Kent State led by seven with just over a minute to play when NIU used an 8-0 to take the lead with 13 seconds left. Aaric Armstead made two triples and Travon Baker scored to push the Huskies in front. Kent State made two free throws with seven seconds to play and Baker raced to the rim but could not get a shot to fall at the buzzer as the Huskies fell by one. 
• In 2014, NIU and Kent State went back-and-forth in the final minute with the Golden Flashes converting a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left. Travon Baker then made a pair of free throws on the other end with 5.2 seconds to play and NIU completed a 14-point comeback win, 50-49.