Northern Illinois Welcomes UMass in Key Mid-American Conference Matchup
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The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team prepares for its only regular season contest against Mid-American Conference newcomer UMass, hosting the Minutemen at the NIU Convocation Center on Saturday, January 17th. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, with the game broadcast on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM. Tickets are currently available for purchase at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.
Huskies Look to Bounce Back After Road Loss
Northern Illinois enters the game following a hard-fought contest at Eastern Michigan, where Makhai Valentine led all scorers with 20 points. Valentine has been a consistent offensive threat recently, averaging 18.7 points over his last three games while shooting 42.3% from three-point range (11-of-26). He currently ranks 18th in the MAC in scoring with an average of 13.5 points per game and 17th in rebounding, pulling down 5.7 boards per contest.
Walters Shines in All-Around Performance
Another key contributor for the Huskies is Taj Walters, who recorded his second double-double of the season against Eastern Michigan, tallying 13 points and 10 rebounds. In conference play, Walters is a force to be reckoned with, ranking fifth in the MAC in rebounding (8.4 boards per game), sixth in free throw percentage (92.3%), and fourth in three-point percentage (53.3%). He is also averaging 12.0 points per game in league matchups.
The Huskies’ strength lies in their relentless pursuit of second-chance opportunities, currently leading the MAC – and ranking 21st nationally – in offensive rebounds with an average of 13.9 per game.
UMass Brings Strong Defense and Rebounding to DeKalb
The Minutemen arrive in DeKalb with an overall record of 11-7, and a 2-4 mark in their inaugural season in the MAC. UMass secured an 85-82 victory over Western Michigan on January 13th. The team boasts a balanced scoring attack, with four players averaging double figures, led by Leonardo Bettiol, who contributes a team-high 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Defensively, UMass has established itself as a formidable opponent, leading the MAC in three-point defense, holding opponents to just 28.9% shooting from beyond the arc – a figure that also ranks 22nd nationally. They also lead the conference in rebounding margin at +6.6, placing them 44th in the nation.
Historical Context and Upcoming Schedule
UMass holds a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series against Northern Illinois, with the most recent meeting resulting in an 80-54 victory for the then-22nd ranked Minutemen on December 14, 2013, in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Looking ahead, Northern Illinois will embark on a two-game road trip, beginning with a visit to Ohio on Tuesday, January 20th. The Huskies will then travel to Ball State on January 24th before returning home to host Western Michigan on Tuesday, January 27th.
