DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team begins its longest road trip of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 18, when the Huskies travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to take on Northern Iowa. Tipoff against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be available on ESPN+.
NIU (2-2) is coming off a 117-62 victory over Benedictine last time out (Nov. 13). Five Huskies scored in double figures, led by 18 points from
Daemar Kelly (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills).
Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) added 17 points,
Taj Walters (Bronx, N.Y./Moravian Prep) and
Hassan 'Tre' Washington (Providence, R.I./Prise Academy) each had 13 while
Jao Ituka (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) added 10 points.
The 117 points scored by the Huskies are tied for the sixth-most in a game in program history. NIU also scored 117 last season against East-West University (Dec. 30, 2024). NIU recorded 24 assists against Benedictine, the most in a game under head coach
Rashon Burno.
NIU's 60 points in the first half against Benedictine is the first time the Huskies have had a 60-plus point half since Dec. 14, 2008, when they scored 62 in the second half of a 97-85 setback against Little Rock.
Over the last two games, NIU is shooting 46.8 percent (22-of-47) from three-point range. During those two games, five different players have made at least three triples, with Washington making four and Ituka, Kelly, Valentine and Walters each making three. During that same stretch, Kelly is averaging a team-best 15.0 points per game.
The Panthers bring a 3-0 mark into Tuesday's contest following a 70-54 victory over Furman on Friday night (Nov. 14). Northern Iowa has played all three of its games at home. Four players are scoring in double figures for UNI, led by Leon Bond III at 15.7 points per game. Tristan Smith is averaging 13.0 points per contest, Trey Campbell adds 12.7 points per game and Ben Schwieger is averaging 11.3 points per game.
This will be the 26th all-time meeting between NIU and Northern Iowa. The Panthers lead the series, 17-8. Northern Iowa has won six-straight against NIU, dating back to 2007.
Following Tuesday's contest, NIU will make the short trip to Loyola-Chicago on Friday, Nov. 21, before visiting Austin Peay on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
