DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team returns home for a pair of games this week, beginning on Tuesday night, Feb. 8, when the Huskies host Akron. Game time against the Zips is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday night is Greek Night with all NIU fraternities and sororities invited to attend and show their Greek pride. 

The matchup with the Zips on Tuesday is the first of two meetings in just over a week between NIU and Akron. The Huskies will visit the Rubber City next Thursday, Feb. 17.

Last week, NIU (6-14, 3-7 MAC) split a pair of road games, winning at Western Michigan (Feb. 1) before falling at Bowling Green (Feb. 5). Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) netted his seventh 20-plus point performance of the season against the Falcons and continues to be one of the best offensive players in the Mid-American Conference. In league play, Williams is averaging 18.2 points per game, sixth-best in the MAC, and ranks in the top-15 in three-point percentage (third), free throw percentage (10th) and field goal percentage (14th).

Adong Makuoi (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada/Daytona State College) also ranks in the top-15 in conference play in field goal percentage, shooting 54.4 percent.  

Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) dished out six assists against Bowling Green and is currently second in league play with 5.2 assists per game. He also ranks fifth in assist/turnover ratio at 1.93. 

The Zips have a 15-6 overall record, including an 8-3 mark in conference play after sweeping a weekend series against Miami, topping the RedHawks, 66-55, on Friday (Feb. 4) in Akron and 71-59 on Sunday (Feb. 6) in Oxford. Four players score in double figures for Akron, led by 14.1 points per game from Ali Ali. Xavier Castaneda adds 13.2 points per contest, Enrique Freeman is averaging a double-double with 12.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, while Bryan Trimble Jr. is scoring 11.2 points per contest. 

Akron leads the MAC, and ranks 29th nationally, in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 62.7 points per game.

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).