DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will finish the 2018-19 regular season on Friday night, March 8, as they travel to Muncie, Ind., to face Ball State. Tip-off against the Cardinals is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+.

NIU (14-16, 7-10) travels to the Hoosier State looking to ride the momentum of Tuesday night's 89-86 victory at Central Michigan. Senior Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) scored a game-high 26 points against the Chippewas, including 13-of-14 from the free-throw line, as he moved into ninth on NIU's all-time scoring list with 1,405 career points. 

Senior Lacey James (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rider) scored 16 points and grabbed an astonishing 19 rebounds in just 22 minutes of action against Central Michigan. James' 19 rebounds are the most by a Huskie since November 27, 2002, when Marcus Smallwood pulled down 21 in a victory over Loyola-Chicago. 

NIU shot 84.6 percent (22-of-26) from the free-throw line against CMU, including a perfect 8-of-8 in the final minute to hold off a late charge by the Chippewas. For the season, the Huskies are shooting 72.7 percent from the charity stripe, which ranks second in the MAC and third all-time in NIU history. In league play, NIU's free throw percentage improves to 76.4 percent, the highest mark in the Mid-American Conference. 

Heading into Friday night's final game of the regular season, the Huskies control their own destiny for playing a home game in the MAC Tournament. With a win at Ball State, NIU will be at home in the first round on Monday night (March 11), with a loss in Muncie, the Huskies will open the conference tournament on the road on Monday. 

The Cardinals have a 15-15 overall record, which includes a 6-11 mark in MAC play; Ball State fell at Eastern Michigan on Tuesday night, 68-61 (March 5). Ball State has three players scoring in double figures, led by 16.7 points per game from Tayler Persons. Tahjai Teague adds 13.5 points, and a team-best 7.7 rebounds, per game, while K.J. Walton also scored 13.5 points per contest. 

Ball State leads the MAC in field goal percentage, shooting 47.0 percent as a team, which ranks 50th nationally and is just one-tenth of a point ahead of NIU.

Following Friday night's game in Muncie, check back with NIUHuskies.com for complete information on the opponent, site and time of NIU's MAC Tournament First Round game.