NIU Welcomes Miami for an Exciting Tuesday Showdown in Home Turf Series!

DEKALB, Ill. – This week, the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball squad will play two home fixtures at the NIU Convocation Center, kicking off on Tuesday evening, Jan. 14, as the Huskies host league-leading Miami beginning at 6 p.m. The matchup against the RedHawks will be broadcast on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM.

Tuesday’s game is designated as Student Appreciation Night, allowing NIU students with a valid OneCard to purchase popcorn for just $1. All currently enrolled NIU students enjoy FREE ENTRY to all regular season home events for NIU Athletics. All student tickets can be obtained through the NIU mobile ticket platform.

In the previous outing against Ohio, Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) topped the scoring for NIU with 25 points, contributing eight rebounds and five assists. Jones is the leading scorer for the Huskies, ranking eighth in the MAC with an average of 15.8 points per game. He has achieved double figures in scoring a team-high of 12 times, including five games exceeding 20 points.

Quaran McPherson (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y./Link Year Prep) recorded 14 points against the Bobcats, including two three-pointers. McPherson stands 13th in the MAC for three-point shooting percentage at 38.9 percent. After missing one game due to injury, McPherson has made a strong return, averaging 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in his last four games. 

The RedHawks arrive in DeKalb with an overall record of 11-4 and a perfect 3-0 in MAC competition, following a 91-71 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday in Oxford. Three players for Miami score in double digits, led by Kam Craft with an average of 17.0 points per game. Peter Suder adds an average of 14.6 points per game while Eian Elmer contributes 12.1 points per contest. 

Miami is currently leading the league in scoring with an average of 83.5 points per game, a scoring margin of +11.9, field goal percentage at 49.9 percent, and three-point percentage at 40.4 percent.

The visiting team has claimed victory in each of the last four encounters between NIU and Miami, including a 62-59 triumph for the Huskies in their only encounter last season (Feb. 6, 2024) in Oxford. 

After Tuesday’s contest, NIU will once again host on Saturday, Jan. 18, as they take on Central Michigan. The match against the Chippewas is set for 1 p.m. Tickets for both games this week, along with all remaining Huskie basketball matches, can be purchased at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).