DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team begins its final season of Mid-American Conference play on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 20, as the Huskies host Central Michigan. Tip-off against the Chippewas is slated for 2 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. The contest will also be available on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM.
Saturday's game will be NIU's Holiday Hoops celebration, which includes numerous Holiday related activities for children as well as a visit from Santa.
NIU (4-7) enters conference play on the heels of a 112-64 victory over East-West University on Tuesday night (Dec. 16). Eight players scored in double figures for the Huskies in that contest, led by
Jao Ituka's (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) 18 points.
Gianni Cobb (Chicago, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) recorded his second double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Cobb is currently tied for seventh in the MAC averaging 4.1 assists per game.
The Huskies have now eclipsed the 100-point mark three times this season. The last time NIU scored 100-or-more points three times in a season came during the 1995-96 campaign.
Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) netted 14 points in Tuesday's victory. Valentine has scored in double figures in six consecutive games and is averaging 14.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over that stretch.
Gustav Winther (Roskilde, Denmark) scored 16 points against East-West, he is averaging 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game over the last four games and leads the league shooting 68.8 percent (44-of-64) from the field for the season.
The Chippewas come to DeKalb with a 4-7 overall record following an 85-65 victory over the University of Olivet last time out (Dec. 17). Nathan Claerbaut leads Central Michigan averaging 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Andy Bronkema is in his first season as head coach of the Chippewas. Bronkema came to Central Michigan from Ferris State, where he was the head coach for 12 seasons, winning the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2018.
NIU leads the all-time series against Central Michigan, 61-57, and the Huskies hold a 41-18 advantage all-time against the Chippewas in DeKalb.
After Saturday's contest, NIU will take a break for the Holidays before returning to action on Tuesday, Dec. 30, when the Huskies host Buffalo. Tip-off against the Bulls is scheduled for 7 p.m.
