DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team begins a three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 13, when the Huskies host Bowling Green at 3 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center. Tickets for Saturday's contest, including the 2024 Pack, which includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chips for $40, are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. 

Saturday's game will be available on ESPN+ with the NIU radio call available on 94-9 WDKB in DeKalb, the NIU Huskies app and the Varsity Network app.

NIU (6-9, 0-3 MAC) played its first overtime game of the season on Tuesday night (Jan. 9) as the Huskies fell at Western Michigan, 95-90. David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) scored 32 points and dished out a career-high 10 assists for his first career double-double. Xavier Amos (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) added 14 points and Quaran McPherson (Queens, N.Y./Nebraska) netted 12 points. 

McPherson has more than doubled his scoring output over the last six games as he is averaging 7.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game over that stretch. 

Harvin Ibarguen (Cali, Colombia/Seward County CC) just missed a double-double against Western Michigan as he recorded a career-high 13 rebounds and nine points. Ibarguen has also seen a significant increase in his production of last as he is averaging 6.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game over the last four contests. 

Four Huskies are currently ranked in the top-20 in the league in rebounding, with Amos tied for 13th at 5.3 rebounds per game. Ibarguen is 15th at 5.17 rebounds per game while Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Fraschels, Switzerland/Ursping) and Zarique Nutter (Newark, N.J./Clarendon College) are tied for 16th at 5.15 rebounds per contest.

The Falcons come to DeKalb with an 11-4 overall record and a 2-1 mark in MAC play. Bowling Green is coming off an 83-78 victory over Ohio at home on Tuesday night (Jan. 9). Four players are scoring in double figures for Bowling Green, led by Marcus Hill's 20.1 points per game, which ranks second in the MAC. Trey Thomas adds 13.1 points per contest, Jason Spurgin is scoring 11.1 points per game while Rashaun Agee is also scoring 11.2 points, along with a team-high 8.6 rebounds, per game.

NIU and Bowling Green met just once last season, an 86-78 Huskie victory in Bowling Green (Feb. 4, 2023). Saturday's matchup will be the only meeting between the two teams this season. 

Following Saturday's contest, the Huskies will be back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 16, when the Huskies host Kent State. Tickets for all Huskie basketball home games are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.