DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team welcomes Kent State to the NIU Convocation Center on Friday night, February 7, in a game that will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. Tipoff between the Huskies and Golden Flashes is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Please note the day and time change from the original schedule due to selection by national television.
Friday's game is Faith and Family Day with local churches and religious organizations invited to the Convocation Center. Tickets for Friday's game, and all remaining Huskie basketball home games, including flex passes, are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).
NIU (14-9, 7-3) brings a five-game win streak, the longest current streak in the Mid-American Conference, into Friday's game after winning at Toledo, 66-61, on Tuesday night (Feb. 4). Senior
Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) scored a game-high 25 points in the victory over the Rockets, extending his school scoring record to 2,025 career points, which also ranks 13th in MAC history.
Senior
Lacey James (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rider) tied a season-high with 13 rebounds and added eight points against the Rockets while sophomore
Darius Beane (Carbondale, Ill./Southern Illinois) scored 11 points.
The Huskies currently lead the MAC in both field goal defense and three-point defense, holding opponents to 39.3 percent from the floor, 35th nationally, and 29.8 percent from three, 41st in the country. Over the last four games, NIU has held its opponents to 56.8 points per game, allowing them to shoot just 37.1 percent from the field.
Kent State brings a 16-7 overall record, including a 6-4 mark in conference play, to DeKalb and is coming off a 62-54 setback against Ball State on Tuesday (Feb. 4). Five players are scoring in double figures for the Golden Flashes with Danny Pippen (14.0 ppg), Antonio Williams (13.8 ppg), Troy Simons (13.0 ppg), Anthony Roberts (12.1 ppg) and Philip Whittington (10.0 ppg) all scoring 10-plus points per game.
Friday's contest will be the second meeting this season between the Huskies and Golden Flashes, NIU won the first meeting on the road, 76-69, handing the Kent State its first home loss of the season (Jan. 21). German scored 17 to pace the Huskies in the first matchup, James added 16 points and Beane chipped in 14.
Following Friday's contest, NIU goes on the road for four of its next five, beginning on Tuesday, February 11, when the Huskies travel to Ball State. Tipoff against the Cardinals is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
