The second game of a three-game homestand for the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 16, as the Huskies host Kent State at 7 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center. Tuesday’s contest will be available on ESPN+ as well as 94-9 WDKB in DeKalb, the NIU Huskies app and the Varsity Network app. Tickets for Tuesday’s game are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.

Last time out against Bowling Green, Nasir Muhammad (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) netted a career-high 12 points, going 5-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range. Quaran McPherson (Queens, N.Y./Nebraska) made his first career start against the Falcons, McPherson is averaging 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game over the last seven contests.

David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) scored 27 points against Bowling Green. He currently ranks third in the Mid-American Conference, and 36th nationally, averaging 19.5 points per game. In conference games, Coit is averaging a league-high 24.3 points per contest.

NIU (6-10, 0-4 MAC) currently ranks 23rd nationally in blocks per game (5.1) and 38th in free throw

attempts (23.2 per game), leading the MAC in both categories.

The Golden Flashes bring an 8-8 overall record to DeKalb, including a 1-3 mark in conference play. Kent State is coming off a 77-62 setback at Central Michigan on Saturday (Jan. 13) and is 1-4 on the road this season. Three players are scoring in double figures for the Golden Flashes, led by 14.7 points per game from Chris Payton Jr., who also averages a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game. Jalen Sullinger is averaging 14.6 points per contest while VonCameron Davis adds 11.5 points per game.

Kent State leads the MAC, and ranks 14th nationally, shooting 77.6 percent from the free throw line.

NIU has won three of the last four meetings in the series with Kent State played in DeKalb, dating back to 2018, including an 86-76 victory last season (Jan. 24, 2023).

Following Tuesday’s contest, the Huskies will be off for a week before host Toledo next Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. Tickets for all NIU Basketball games are available at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.