DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team plays the first of three-straight at home on Saturday afternoon, January 25, when the Huskies welcome Western Michigan to the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Broncos is slated for 3 p.m. and will be available on ESPN3. 

Saturday is Scout Day as all Boy/Cub and Girl Scouts in uniform can purchase discounted tickets for $5 and will be invited onto the court during the national anthem. Tickets for Saturday's contest, and all remaining home games, including flex passes, are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).

NIU (10-9, 3-3 MAC) is coming off a 76-69 victory over Kent State on Tuesday night (Jan. 21) when the Huskies handed the Golden Flashes their first home loss of the season. Senior Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) scored a team-high 17 points, senior Lacey James (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rider) added 16 points and sophomore Darius Beane (Carbondale, Ill./Southern Illinois) added a season-high tying 14 points. 

Since moving into the starting lineup at Bowling Green (Jan. 18), Beane is averaging 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. 

With the victory at Kent State, NIU has five true road wins this season, tied for 18th-most in the country. The Huskies and Toledo are tied for the Mid-American Conference lead with five road victories this season. William & Mary leads the nation with eight road wins.

German continues to close in on the NIU career scoring record as his 1,949 career points leave him just 47 shy of Huskie record-holder T.J. Lux (1995-2000; 1,996 points). The senior guard is averaging 20.0 points per game, best in the MAC and 24th nationally. 

The Broncos bring a 9-10 overall record, including a 2-4 mark in conference play, to DeKalb. Western Michigan is coming off a 90-79 setback at Buffalo on Tuesday (Jan. 21) after topping Kent State, 67-63, last Saturday (Jan. 18). Two players are scoring in double figures for the Broncos, led by 17.8 points per game from Michael Flowers. Brandon Johnson adds 15.3 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per contest.

NIU has won five of the last six meetings against Western Michigan in DeKalb, including a 70-65 victory last season (Feb. 26, 2019).

Following Saturday's game, NIU will be at home again on Tuesday night, January 28, when the Huskies host Ohio at 7 p.m.