On its second time around in the MAC West division, the NIU men’s basketball team looks to ride the momentum from its last two games through the remainder of the season.

The Huskies (7-16 overall, 3-8 MAC) head northeast to square off with Central Michigan tonight at 6 p.m. The Chippewas (7-16, 4-7) topped NIU 58-45 Jan. 24 in DeKalb.

This week’s MAC West Player of the Week, Darion ‘Jake’ Anderson leads the Huskies into battle averaging 16.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. The sophomore totaled 40 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists and four steals in two games last week, including 24 points and 10 rebounds in NIU’s win over Akron Sunday.

CMU comes off a 61-57 loss at Kent State Saturday, a game in which senior Marcus Van tallied 18 points while pulling down 10 boards. The forward/center, who averages 13 points and eight rebounds a game, recorded a MAC-season high 20 rebounds against NIU in last month’s matchup.

The Huskies broke the 80-point margin in their last two games and played aggressive defense, forcing the opposing offense to turn the ball over 38 times while swiping 23 steals.

But those two games were at the friendly confines of the Convocation Center. Now NIU must take its act on the road.

“We have to keep playing the way we’re playing and try and bring the intensity we have at home on the road,” said freshman Tyler Storm. “But we’re definately improving. We’re finally buying into what the coaches are telling us and working hard every day.”

According to Storm, NIU head coach Ricardo Patton continues to drill one thing into the players’ heads that will determine their success.

“[Patton] tells us ‘defense creates our offense,’” Storm said. “As long as we stop other teams, we shouldn’t have any problem scoring.”

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