DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team begins a stretch of four games in eight days with back-to-back road contests, starting on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 22, when the Huskies travel to Oxford, Ohio to face Miami. Tipoff against the RedHawks is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN3.
Last time out against Bowling Green,
Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) scored a career-best 32 points, but the Huskies fell to the Falcons, 92-83. In league play, Williams is currently ranked eighth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring at 17.7 points per game. He is also fifth in field goal percentage, shooting 60 percent, and second in three-point percentage, shooting 75 percent.
As a team in conference play, NIU (5-9, 2-2 MAC) is shooting 46 percent from the field, third-best in the MAC, and 38.2 percent from three-point range, second-best in the conference.
Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) dished out nine assists with just one turnover against Bowling Green. Thornton ranks second in the MAC in assists during conference play with 4.8 per contest and is also fifth with a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio. He is also averaging 14.3 points per game in league play, which ranks 19th in the MAC.
The RedHawks have an 8-8 overall record, including a 2-2 mark in conference play and are coming off an 86-63 setback against Ohio last time out (Jan. 18). Three players score in double figures for Miami, led by 16.4 points per game from Dae Dae Grant. Mekhi Lairy adds 13.9 points per contest while Dalonte Brown is averaging 12.6 points, and a team-high 12.6 rebounds, per game.
As a team, Miami leads the conference in free throw percentage, shooting 78.5 percent, 11th-best in the country.
Following Saturday's game at Miami, the Huskies will remain on the road to face Ohio on Tuesday, Jan. 25, before returning home to host Ball State on Thursday, Jan. 27, and Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 29. Thursday's matchup with Ball State is a rescheduled contest from Dec. 29, tickets for the originally scheduled date remain valid.
Tickets for all Huskie home games are still on sale, including Huskie Flex Plans. 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).
