DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team begins Mid-American Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 4, as the Huskies travel to Ypsilanti to face Eastern Michigan. Game time against the Eagles is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM.

NIU finished 2024 with a 117-50 win over East-West University as six players scored in double figures and three posted double-doubles against the Phantoms. Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) had 25 points and a career-best 11 assists for his first double-double of the year, Quaran McPherson (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y./Link Year Prep) also scored 25 points and tallied 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Jayden Mott (Midwest City, Okla./Edmond Santa Fe) registered his first career double-double with a career-high 15 points and a career-best 11 rebounds. 

The 117 points scored by NIU are its most since 2000 and the sixth-most in a game in program history. 

Jones heads into Mid-American Conference play ranked second in the league in scoring at 16.8 points per game, behind only Bowling Green's Marcus Johnson (17.3 ppg). Over the last six games, Jones is averaging 19.0 points per game. Jones is also second in the league in blocked shots, averaging 1.17 per contest.

McPherson ranks third in the league in three-point percentage, shooting 47.8 percent for the season, after going 4-of-6 from three last time out. 

The Eagles bring a 6-6 record into Saturday's contest, including a 2-2 mark at home. Eastern Michigan fell to Davidson, 86-64, last time out (Dec. 28). Four players score in double figures for the Eagles, led by 15.8 points from Jalen Terry. Da'Sean Nelson adds 14.2 points, Christian Henry is scoring 13.2 points and Jalin Billingsley chips in 11.6 points per game.

NIU has won each of the last three meetings in the series, including a 76-66 victory last year (Feb. 3, 2024) in the only matchup between the two teams. This is the first time NIU and Eastern Michigan have met in the MAC opener since the 2011-12 season. 

Following Saturday's conference opener, NIU will return home to host Kent State on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Tipoff against the Golden Flashes is set for 6 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.