DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team begins a two-game swing through the State of Michigan on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 27, when the Huskies visit Western Michigan. Game time against the Broncos is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN3. 

NIU (10-10, 3-4 MAC) travels to Kalamazoo on the heels of a 93-62 victory over Bowling Green on Tuesday night (Jan. 23). The 31-point win over the Falcons is NIU's largest margin of victory in a conference game since beating Buffalo, 83-52, on Dec. 18, 1999. NIU's 58 second half points is the most for the Huskies in a half against a Division I opponent since scoring 62 in the second half against Arkansas-Little Rock on Dec. 14, 2008.

Junior Lacey James (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rider) scored a career-high 15 points in the win over Bowling Green. James is averaging 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game over the last four contests. Junior Dante Thorpe (Washington, D.C./Triton College) just missed his first career double-double against the Falcons as he scored 12 points with nine rebounds. Thorpe currently ranks sixth in the MAC in field goal percentage, shooting 55.4 percent, the best of any guard in the conference. 

Sophomore Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) continues to lead the MAC in scoring at 19.5 points per game after scoring 19 against Bowling Green in just 11 minutes on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 from three-point range. 

The Broncos, the preseason favorite in the MAC West Division, have an 11-9 overall record, including a 3-4 mark in league play. Western Michigan has lost three-straight, two of which have come against the division leaders in the conference, Buffalo and Toledo. Two players are scoring in double figures for the Broncos, led by 18.7 points per game from Thomas Wilder. Josh Davis adds 11.0 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds per game.

NIU will be looking for its first win at Western Michigan since 2006, the Broncos have won 11-straight home meetings against the Huskies. 

Following Saturday's trip to Kalamazoo, the Huskies will be back in the State of Michigan on Tuesday night, Jan. 30, when they travel to Central Michigan. NIU will return home on Saturday, Feb. 3, when the Huskies host Miami (Ohio) at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now through the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or online at NIUHuskies.com. Reserved lower bowl seats are just $10 while general admission is available for $8.