DEKALB, Ill. – A quick turnaround will see the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team return to action on Thursday night, Jan. 27, as the Huskies welcome Ball State to the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Cardinals is slated for 7 p.m. and will be available on ESPN3. 

Thursday's game is a rescheduled game from Dec. 29, tickets for the original date will be good for admission on Thursday night. 

NIU (5-11, 2-4 MAC) is returning home from a two-game road trip in Ohio where the Huskies visited Miami and Ohio. Last time out against the Bobcats, NIU fell 74-62 despite outscoring the hosts 20-4 over the final seven minutes of the contest. 

The Huskies continue to be one of the best offensive teams in the Mid-American Conference during league play as they rank second in both field goal percentage (46.5 percent) and three-point percentage (38.1 percent) in conference game. Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) is averaging 18.6 points per game in conference action, sixth-best in the MAC.

Williams is one of three Huskies leading a statistical category in conference play as he is shooting a league-best 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from three-point range. Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) is averaging 5.0 assists per game in MAC games, tops in the conference, and Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi) has recorded a league-best 2.2 steals per game. 

The Cardinals come to DeKalb with an 8-10 overall record, including a 3-4 mark in MAC play. Ball State topped Miami, 81-64, at home last time out (Jan. 25). Four players score in double figures for the Cardinals, led by 12.7 points per game from Payton Sparks. Luke Bumbalough adds 12.2 points per contest, NIU transfer Tyler Cochran is scoring 12.1 points per game and Miryne Thomas adds 10.8 points per contest.

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).