DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team wraps up its current three-game homestand on Tuesday night, February 5, as the Huskies host Ball State. Tip-off against the Cardinals is scheduled for 7 p.m., and will be available on ESPN+. 

Tickets for Tuesday's game, and all remaining Huskie home games, are available from the NIU Convocation Center Box Office, by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or by visiting NIUHuskies.com/tickets.

NIU (12-10, 5-4 MAC) is tied for second in the Mid-American Conference West Division with Central Michigan after falling to Toledo, 69-55, this past Saturday (Feb. 2). Senior Dante Thorpe (Washington, D.C./Triton College) scored a game-high 19 points against the Rockets, continuing his outstanding play during the conference season. 

Thorpe is averaging 17.4 points per game in league play, fifth-best in the MAC, while shooting 58.6 percent from the field, sixth in the league, 81.3 percent from the free-throw line, seventh-best in the MAC, and 60 percent from three-point range, second in the conference. 

Junior Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) moved into ninth in career scoring at NIU with his 15 points against Toledo. German currently has 1,342 career points and past Billy Harris (1970-73) on NIU's career scoring list against the Rockets. German is averaging 20.2 points per game this season, second-best in the MAC and 42nd in the nation. 

The Cardinals come to DeKalb with an 11-11 overall record, including a 2-7 mark in conference play, following an 83-80 setback in overtime against Kent State this past Saturday. Five of Ball State's seven conference losses have come by six points or less, including a pair of overtime defeats. Ball State has three players scoring in double figures, led by Tayler Persons at 16.5 points per game. K.J. Walton adds 15.0 points per contest and Tahjai Teague is averaging 14.5 points per game.

Following Tuesday's game, NIU will head on the road for its next two games, beginning on Saturday, February 9, when the Huskies visit Eastern Michigan. Game time against the Eagles is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+.