DEKALB, Ill. – Following a victory over Eastern Illinois in the home opener on Wednesday, the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will return to the road on Saturday, Dec. 4, when the Huskies travel to Dayton. Tip time against the Flyers is slated for 1 p.m. CT and will be available on Bally Sports Ohio and ESPN+.
Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) scored a career-high 24 points against Eastern Illinois to lead the Huskies to a 55-45 victory in the home opener. Williams has averaged 20.5 points per game over the last two contests.
The 45 points scored by the Panthers on Wednesday was the fewest by a Huskie opponent since Feb. 4, 2014, when NIU defeated Miami (Ohio), 53-41.
Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi) added 15 points on Wednesday, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. Hankerson is connecting at 44 percent (11-of-25) from three in the last four games, making at least two triples in each of those four contests.
The Flyers bring a 5-3 overall record into Saturday's contest after topping Alabama State, 93-54, on Wednesday (Dec. 1). Dayton has won four consecutive games, including the championship of the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando with victories over Miami (Fla.), Kansas and Belmont. Two players are scoring in double figures for the Flyers, led by 11.3 points per game from Toumani Camara, who is also Dayton's leading rebounder at 6.8 boards per game. Elijah Weaver is averaging 10.1 points per game for the Flyers.
Saturday's contest will be the third all-time meeting between NIU and Dayton, with the Flyers winning each of the first two contests.
Huskie Flex Plans are now available for the 2021-22 basketball season. Purchase vouchers for $6 each and use them throughout the season to attend Huskie men's and women's basketball home games. Simply redeem vouchers for tickets at the box office prior to the game. Tickets can be purchased online at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).
After a week off for finals, NIU will return to action at Chicago State on Monday, Dec. 13, the Huskies will return home to the NIU Convocation Center on Wednesday, Dec. 22, when they host Indiana State.
