Just 48 hours after winning at Ball State, the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will visit Akron as the Huskies face the Zips on Thursday, Feb. 17. Game time at Akron is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN3.
The Huskies picked up a 64-58 victory on Tuesday night (Feb. 15) at Ball State as Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi) and Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) each netted 19 points. Chinedu Kingsley Okanu (Lynwood, Ill./Vincennes University) added 10 points in less than 10 minutes, all in the second half, as NIU shot 50 percent (11-of-22) after halftime to earn the win.
Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC), who ranks third in the Mid-American Conference in league play with 4.5 assists per game, dished out a game-high five assists against the Cardinals while Hankerson added a game-high four steals.
Hankerson leads the MAC, and ranks 49th in the country, with 2.0 steals per contest.
Thursday's contest marks the first of two consecutive weeks in which NIU will play on Thursday, in addition to its traditional Tuesday-Saturday conference slate, as the Huskies play six games in 12 days.
The Zips come into Thursday's contest with a 16-8 overall record, including a 9-5 mark in conference play. Akron fell in overtime at Western Michigan on Tuesday night (Feb. 15), 61-57. Four players score in double figures for Akron, led by 13.3 points per game from Ali Ali and Enrique Freeman. Freeman is also averaging a team-high 11.3 rebounds per contest. Xavier Castaneda is averaging 12.8 points per game while Bryan Trimble Jr. adds 10.6 points per contest.
Akron leads the MAC, and ranks 28th nationally, in scoring defense, allowing just 62.8 points per game.
The Huskies are looking for their first win at Akron since 2008 as the Zips have won each of the last eight home meetings in the series.
NIU will return home on Saturday, Feb. 19, when the Huskies host Miami in the second half of a "Cram the Convo" NIU Basketball Doubleheader. The day begins with the NIU women's basketball team hosting Western Michigan at 1 p.m., followed by the men's game against the RedHawks. A pennant giveaway and numerous other special events are planned for "Cram the Convo," more information can be found here.
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