Records:
Huskies (5-16 overall, 2-7 MAC)
Kent State (18-5 overall, 7-2 MAC)

Coach’s Take:

NIU
Head coach Ricardo Patton said the team cannot depend on the same guys every night, and wants to see a total team effort.

“Whether it is at home or on the road, we have to take better care of the basketball,” Patton said. “We have to quit turning the ball over as much as we have been, and on the offensive end we have to show more patience and make plays.”

KSU
Kent State head coach Jim Christian did not return Northern Star phone calls.
“These are games that you easily could lose,” he said after a win against Ball State. “You’ve got to find a way to win, which we did. We battled all the way through.”

Last Time Out:

NIU
NIU is coming off a disappointing loss after giving the Buffalo Bulls its first conference win. After creeping back into the game, the Huskies were unable to prevail, and lost 89-81 to the Bulls.

Guard Jarvis Nichols and forward Shaun Logan scored 22 and 16 points, respectively, but their efforts could not boost the team to victory.

KSU
Kent State needed an overtime period to defeat the Ball State Cardinals on Wednesday. After blowing a 13–point lead at the half, the Golden Flashes found themselves down by six points with five minutes left to play.

With seconds left in the game, a tip–in by Haminn Quaintance helped Kent State to a 64-61 win in overtime.

Key Players:

NIU
Nichols is back from a one-game break after aggravating a screw in his left foot. Nichols returned against Buffalo on Tuesday to lead the team in scoring.

He tallied 22 points in the matchup against the Bulls to set a new career high. The junior averages 11.6 points per game in conference play — the highest on the team.

KSU
Kent State has three productive offensive players on the roster. All three players average more points per game in conference play than the leading Huskie scorer.

Al Fisher, Chris Singletary and Mike Scott average 15.3, 12.9 and 12.1 points per game, respectively. With these three players backed by a solid bench, Kent State is first in the MAC in shooting percentage, sinking .461 percent of its shots.


Vital Stat:

NIU
NIU has had no luck winning on the road this season. It has dropped all nine of its away games. Within those games, the Huskies have gone 0-3 in MAC play.

“Regardless of the opponent it is difficult to win on the road,” Patton said. “Especially when we are dropping games at home.”

KSU
The Golden Flashes have yet to lose on their home court this season, as they are 13-0 at the M.A.C. Center. Kent State has five MAC victories in its 13 home contests and ranks No 1 in the MAC East.

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