DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will finish the 2025-26 season on Friday night, March 6, as it travels to Akron to take on the Zips. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT and will be televised on CBS Sports Network and available on radio on WDKB 94-9 FM in DeKalb. 

Gianni Cobb (Chicago, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) is averaging 14.8 points, 4.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game over the last five contests, shooting 86.4 percent (19-of-22) from the free-throw line. Cobb moved into first on NIU's list of assists by a sophomore against Kent State (March 3). He currently has 115 assists this season.

Gustav Winther (Roskilde, Denmark) is second in the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage at 64.1 percent. Winther is averaging 10.2 points per game over the last five contests, shooting 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the field.

Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) has scored in double figures in 21 of the last 24 games. Valentine is eighth on NIU's single-season three-point field goals list with 69, five triples behind Eugene German (74, 2019-20) and James Dent Jr. (74, 2024-25) for sixth. 

The Zips come into Friday's regular season finale with a 25-5 overall record, 16-1 in the MAC. Akron is coming off a 77-64 victory at Central Michigan on Tuesday (March 3). Akron has won 30 consecutive home games dating back to the beginning of the 2024-25 season. Four players score in double figures for the Zips, led by 20.5 points per game from Tavari Johnson.

Akron ranks sixth in the country in scoring offense at 89.4 points per game, fifth in assists per game (19.0), and 10th in field goal percentage (50.4 percent).

NIU has won its last game of the season in four of the last five years dating back to the 2020-21 campaign.

Friday's contest will be NIU's 689th, and final, MAC regular season game as the Huskies move into the Horizon League for the 2026-27 season.