DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team starts Mid-American Conference play with a pair of road games, beginning on Saturday afternoon, January 5, with a trip to Athens, Ohio, to meet the Ohio Bobcats. Game time against Ohio is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, and will be available on ESPN3. 

NIU (7-6) comes into conference action following an 88-60 setback at eighth-ranked Michigan State (Dec. 29). Cassius Winston scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Spartans, who shot 50.9 percent in the contest. Michigan State was the highest-ranked opponent the Huskies have faced since meeting eighth-ranked Texas Tech in the first round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament. 

Junior Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) scored a team-high 20 points against Michigan State as he continues to lead the MAC in scoring at 20.9 points per game. German, who ranks 28th nationally in scoring, has scored in double figures in 45 consecutive games. 

Senior Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) is the only player in the conference to rank in the top 15 in in scoring, tied for ninth at 16.2 points per game, rebounding, tied for 13th at 6.7 rebounds per contest, field goal percentage, 10th at 55.5 percent, and three-point percentage, sixth at 45.5 percent. 

Bradley has scored in double figures in each of his last four games against Ohio, averaging 12.5 points per game during those games against the Bobcats. 

Ohio enters league play with an 8-4 overall record, including a perfect 7-0 mark at home this season. Three players score in double figures for the Bobcats, led by 18.0 points per game from Jason Carter; Teyvion Kirk adds 15.9 points per contest and Ben Vander Plas chips in 10.8 points per game. Ohio is second in the MAC in rebounding margin, pulling down 8.1 more rebounds per game than its opponents. Doug Taylor grabs a team-high 8.8 rebounds per contest for the Bobcats.

Saturday's contest marks the third time in the last five seasons that the Huskies and Bobcats have opened conference play against each other. 

Following Saturday's visit to Athens, the Huskies will remain on the road as they visit Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday, January 8. Tipoff against the RedHawks is scheduled for 6 p.m., and will be on ESPN+.