DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will close out the 2017 calendar year, as well as its non-conference slate, on Friday when the Huskies travel to Iowa City to meet the Iowa Hawkeyes. Game time is set for 7 p.m., and will be available online via BTN Plus.

NIU is returning to action for the first time since Dec. 21 when the Huskies downed UIC, 69-63, behind a career-high 21 points from junior Dante Thorpe (Washington, D.C./Triton College) to improve to 7-5 on the season. Thorpe is averaging 18.0 points and 4.7 rebounds over his last three contests. 

Junior Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) added 18 points and 10 rebounds against UIC for his first double-double of the season, and the fifth of his career. In the last four games, Bradley is averaging 7.8 rebounds per game. 

The Huskies committed just nine turnovers against the Flames and currently lead the MAC, and rank 44th nationally, with just 11.8 turnovers per game. NIU also leads the conference, and ranks 49th in the country, in turnover margin at +3.2.

Individually, sophomore Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) continues to lead the league in scoring at 19.8 points per game, which also ranks 50th in the country. German is the only Huskie to score in double figures in all 12 games this season.

NIU is returning to the State of Iowa for the second time this season after traveling to Iowa State on Dec. 4. The Huskies held a two-point halftime lead against the Cyclones before falling, 94-80.

Iowa brings an 8-6 record into Friday's contest, which is also the final non-conference game for the Hawkeyes. Three players are scoring in double figures for the Hawkeyes, led by 13.7 points per game from Tyler Cook, who is also tied for the team lead with 6.6 rebounds per game. Jordan Bohannon and Isaiah Moss each add 12.1 points per contest. NIU will be looking for its first victory in eight tries against the Hawkeyes. 

Following Friday's trip to Iowa City, the Huskies will begin Mid-American Conference play at home on Tuesday, Jan. 2, when they host defending MAC Tournament Champion Kent State. Game time against the Golden Flashes is slated for 7 p.m.