DEKALB, Ill. – Coming off a win over Ball State on Saturday, the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will be at home again on Tuesday night, Jan. 28, as the Huskies host MAC leading Akron. Tipoff against the Zips is slated for 6 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (7225).
Tuesday's contest will also be available on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM.
NIU picked up a 76-66 victory over Ball State as four Huskies scored in double figures, led by 19 points from
Nasir Muhammad (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian). Muhammad also recorded six rebounds, four assists and two steals against the Cardinals, all of which are career highs. Over his last three games played, Muhammad is averaging 11.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, shooting 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from three.
Quaran McPherson (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y./Link Year Prep) and
James Dent Jr. (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) each recorded 18-point, 10-rebound double-doubles. For McPherson, it was his third double-double of the season while Dent's double-double was the first of his collegiate career.
Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) had 11 points against Ball State as the Huskies made 13 three-pointers for the third time this season. NIU is averaging 9.26 triples per game, third-best in the MAC, and 10.14 per game in league play, which is second in the conference.
The Zips come to DeKalb with a 14-5 overall record, including a 7-0 mark in league play to sit first in the MAC. Akron is 3-3 on the road this season but their losses have come at Arkansas State, Saint Mary's and Princeton, who are a combined 48-13.
Akron ranks third nationally in both three-point field goals and three-point attempts. The Zips average 11.6 triples per game and 31.7 attempts. Akron is also seventh nationally in assists averaging 18.6 per contest.
The Zips have won the last three meetings between the two teams, with the last Huskie victory coming on Feb. 17, 2022, in Akron.
After Tuesday's game, NIU will head back on the road for its next two at Toledo (Feb. 1) and Bowling Green (Feb. 4) before returning home to host Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, Feb. 8 in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge.
