DEKALB, Ill. – A third in-state matchup of the season awaits the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team as it travels to Peoria on Saturday, Dec. 6, to face Bradley. Tip-off against the Braves is slated for 7 p.m. and the contest will be available on ESPN+ as well as WDKB 94-9 FM

Last time out against Lindenwood, Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) tied his career-high with 17 points, marking the third time in the last five contests that he has netted 17. Valentine is NIU's leading scorer at 12.3 points per game and leads the Huskies in rebounding at 5.4 boards per contest. He also ranks ninth in the Mid-American Conference in free throw percentage (86.2 percent) and tied for ninth in steals (1.63 per game).

Over the last five games, Valentine is averaging 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. 

Gustav Winther (Roskilde, Denmark) had 15 points against Lindenwood, going 7-of-11 from the field. Winther leads the MAC in field goal percentage, shooting 76.2 percent, over eight percentage points ahead of second-place Austin Parks from Toledo. 

Daemar Kelly (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) also scored in double figures last time out with 13 points. Kelly ranks fourth in the MAC in free throw percentage, shooting 92 percent (23-of-25) from the line, he has made his last 12 free throw attempts dating back to the Northern Iowa game on Nov. 18. 

Bradley brings a 5-4 record into Saturday's game, including a 3-1 mark at home after topping Washington State, 64-60, last time out (Dec. 2). Three players score in double figures for the Braves, led by 17.9 points per game from Jaquan Johnson. Brian Wardle is in his 11th season as head coach at Bradley, having guided the Braves to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and the NIT in each of the last three seasons.

This marks the 12th all-time meeting between NIU and Bradley, with the Braves leading the series, 10-1. The two teams met last season in Peoria (Nov. 16, 2024), a 76-60, Bradley victory.

The Huskies will be off this coming week for finals before returning to action next Saturday, Dec. 13, when they travel to Elon. Game time against the Phoenix is slated for 12 p.m. CT and will be available on FloCollege and WDKB 94-9 FM.