DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will play its second-straight game in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday, Feb. 4, when the Huskies visit Bowling Green. Game time against the Falcons is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM.
NIU nearly completed an improbable comeback at Toledo on Saturday (Feb. 1) as the Huskies rallied from down as much as 19, and down 13 with 2:24 left, to pull within one in the final minute before the Rockets held off the Huskies.
Nasir Muhammad (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) tied a career-high with 21 points against the Rockets while also recording a career-best five assists. Muhammad went 6-of-8 from three and ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference in three-point percentage, shooting 42 percent (29-of-69).
Quaran McPherson (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y./Link Year Prep) had 20 points against Toledo, his fourth 20-plus point game of the season. McPherson ranks sixth in the MAC in three-point percentage at 41 percent (25-of-61).
NIU ranks third in the MAC averaging 9.29 triples per contest, which ranks 50th nationally. In league play, NIU is second in the conference, making 10.0 threes per game.
Against Toledo, the Huskies committed a season-low five turnovers, a turnover percentage of just 6.7 percent, the second-lowest for NIU in the last 25 seasons.
The Falcons come into Tuesday's game with a 7-14 overall record, 2-7 in league play. Bowling Green has dropped five in a row, including a 90-71 decision at Central Michigan on Saturday (Feb. 1). Four players are scoring in double figures for the Falcons, led by 16.8 points per game from Marcus Johnson. Javontae Campbell adds 13.9 points per contest, Derrick Butler is averaging 13.4 points per game and Trey Thomas adds 11.3 points per contest. Bowling Green ranks third in the MAC in free throw percentage, shooting 75.2 percent.
NIU will return home on Saturday, Feb. 8, when the Huskies host the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge at 1 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center. Tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (7225).
