DEKALB, Ill. – Following a weekend bye, the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team heads to Ypsilanti, Mich., on Tuesday, Jan. 13, to take on Eastern Michigan. Tip-off against the Eagles is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM.

NIU fell to Toledo, 75-61, last time out (Jan. 6) with Dylan Ducommun (Geneva, Switzerland) leading the Huskies with 17 points. Ducommon has scored in double figures in seven-straight games and is averaging 15.3 points per game during that stretch. In league play, Ducommun is averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game, tied for 10th-best in the Mid-American Conference. 

Taj Walters (Bronx, N.Y./ Moravian Prep) recorded a career-best 13 rebounds against the Rockets, along with eight points. Walters is averaging 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game over the last five contests, shooting 57.6 percent (19-of-33) from the field and a perfect 13-of-13 from the free-throw line.

NIU had 12 offensive rebounds against Toledo and is averaging 14.2 offensive rebounds per game, first in the MAC and 18th nationally. Gustav Winther (Roskilde, Denmark) is ranked fourth in the conference with 2.53 offensive rebounds per game, he is also third in field goal percentage, shooting 63.5 percent. 

Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) is averaging 13.1 points per game, which ranks 20th in the MAC, and leads NIU in rebounding at 5.7 boards per contest, which is 16th in the MAC.  

The Eagles bring an 8-9 overall record into Tuesday's contest, including a 2-3 mark in league play after falling to Western Michigan, 79-62, in Kalamazoo (Jan. 10) last time out. Three players score in double figures for Eastern Michigan, led by 14.1 points per game from Mohammad Habhab.

Eastern Michigan ranks third in the MAC in both scoring defense, allowing 71.5 points per game, and three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. 

This will be the lone meeting of the season between NIU and Eastern Michigan. 

Following Tuesday's game, NIU will return home on Saturday, Jan. 17, when the Huskies host UMass. Game time against the Minutemen is scheduled for 2 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.