DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will host Ball State on Friday night, March 2, as the Huskies and Cardinals close the regular season. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m., and will be available on ESPN3. Prior to the contest, the Huskies will honor their lone senior Andrew Zelis (Wheaton, Ill./Kaskaskia College). 

NIU (12-18, 5-12 MAC) will be meeting for the second time in 10 days as the Cardinals claimed a 77-68 win in Muncie on Feb. 20. Ball State has won four of the last five overall in the series but NIU has won three of the last four meetings in DeKalb. 

Sophomore Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) continues to lead the Mid-American Conference in scoring as he is averaging 20.7 points per game, which ranks 36th nationally. German, who has scored in double figures in all 30 games this season, has scored 622 points this season, fourth-most in school history. The Gary, Ind., native is 73 points behind Paul Dawkins (695, 1978-79) for the most points scored in a season by a Huskie. 

Junior Lacey James (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rider) is coming off of his fourth double figure scoring game of the season on Tuesday night as he scored 13 points, on 6-of-7 shooting, with seven rebounds against Toledo. Over the last 11 games, James is averaging 7.9 points per contest, shooting 56.7 percent from the field and 73.1 percent from the free-throw line. 

The Cardinals come to DeKalb with a 19-11 overall record, including a 10-7 mark in MAC play. Ball State has three players scoring in double figures, led by 14.6 points per game from Tayler Persons. Tahjai Teague adds 11.8 points per game and Trey Moses chips in 11.5 points per contest. 

Ball State ranks second in the MAC in field goal defense, allowing opponent to shoot just 42.8 percent from the field. 

NIU will begin play in the MAC Tournament on Monday night, March 5, on the road in the first round. The site and opponent for Monday are still to be determined.