DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team heads back on the road for the third time in four games as the Huskies travel to Central Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 14. Game time between the Huskies and Chippewas is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+ as well as WDKB 94-9 FM.

On Wednesday against Bowling Green, Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) scored in double figures for the 16th time in 18 games when he netted 15 points. Valentine is averaging 16.3 points per game over the last 10 games. He is shooting 40 percent (32-of-80) from three and 87.9 percent (29-of-33) from the free-throw line during the last 10.

Gianni Cobb (Chicago, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) had six assists against Bowling Green. Cobb is averaging 10.3 points, 4.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game over the last eight contests. 

NIU leads the MAC in three-point defense, holding opponents to 31.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. In the first meeting, the Huskies held Central Michigan to just 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from three-point range. 

The Chippewas come into Saturday's contest with a 7-17 overall record, 3-8 in Mid-American Conference play. Central Michigan is returning to action for the first time since falling at Louisiana, 85-80, last Saturday (Feb. 7) in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge. Four players score in double figures for the Chippewas, led by 12.3 points per game from Nathan Claerbaut.

Central Michigan leads the MAC in blocks averaging 4.2 per game, individually, Claerbaut leads the conference with 1.88 per game.

This will be the 120th all-time meeting between NIU and Central Michigan, and the second this season after the Huskies topped the Chippewas, 74-73, in DeKalb (Dec. 20, 2025). The Huskies rallied from down 20 with 14:30 to play to win the game. NIU's first lead of the second half came on Taj Walters' tip-in at the buzzer. NIU has also won three of its last four trips to Mount Pleasant. 

Following Saturday's game, NIU will be back on the road on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Buffalo before returning home to host Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 21.