DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will host Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon, February 16, at 3:30 p.m., as part of the "Cram The Convo" doubleheader with the NIU women's basketball team hosting Toledo at 1 p.m. 

The first 1,000 fans at each game will receive an exclusive Victor E. Huskie bobblehead, courtesy of Northwestern Medicine. NIU faculty and staff can purchase a $5 ticket with a NIU ID, tickets are available from the NIU Convocation Center Box Office, by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or by visiting NIUHuskies.com/tickets.

The Huskies come into Saturday's contest at 12-13 overall, 5-7 in Mid-American Conference play. NIU shot 50.9 percent from the field last time out against Western Michigan (Feb. 12) and continues to rank among the nation's best from the field, shooting 48.1 percent to rank 30th nationally. 

Seniors Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) and Dante Thorpe (Washington, D.C./Triton College) are currently first and second in free throw shooting in conference play. Bradley leads the MAC at 96.3 percent while Thorpe is second at 86.7 percent. As a team, the Huskies are shooting 76.7 percent from the line in league play, second-best in the MAC, and 72.1 percent for the season overall, which ranks third in the MAC and is the fifth-best single season in school history. 

Along with his strong free throw shooting, Thorpe also ranks second in conference play in three-point percentage (51.6 percent), seventh in field goal percentage (55 percent) and ninth in scoring (16.6 points per game.). 

Junior Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) scored 29 points on Tuesday at Western Michigan and has 1,388 for his Huskie career, just 14 shy of Jerry Zielinski (1969-72) for eighth all-time in NIU history.

The Falcons come to DeKalb tied for first in the MAC East with Buffalo at 9-2 in conference play, 17-7 overall this season. Bowling Green defeated Central Michigan, 79-72, at home on Tuesday night (Feb. 12). Bowling Green has a trio of players scoring in double figures, led by 18.2 points per game from Justin Turner. Demajeo Wiggins adds 13.2 points, and a team-best 11.5 rebounds, per game while Dylan Frye chips in 12.7 points per contest.

Following Saturday's contest, the Huskies will have their midweek bye before returning to action on Saturday, February 23 at Toledo. Game time against the Rockets is slated for 5 p.m. CT and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.