DeKalb, Ill. - Northern Illinois begins the second half of the Mid-American Conference West schedule on Tuesday (Feb. 26) night, as the Huskies welcome division-leading, Western Michigan to the NIU Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
This game, previously scheduled for Sunday, February 17, was rescheduled due to the tragic events of February 14 on the campus of Northern Illinois.
This is NIU's first game since February 12 when the Huskies earned the exciting 88-78 victory over Akron, snapping the Zips' 22-game home winning streak, which was the fifth longest in the nation. Freshman guard Darion Anderson leads the Huskies in scoring with 11 points-per-game, while back court mate Jarvis Nichols is chipping in 10 per contest.
Western Michigan picked up the 74-67 win over Green Bay in their Bracketbuster contest on Saturday (Feb. 23), behind a game-high 19 points from sophomore guard David Kool. Kool is averaging 15.3 points-per-game, while senior center Joe Reitz is pouring in 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds-per-game.
All-Time Series: Western Michigan holds a 43-27 lead over the Huskies in their all-time series.
The Last Time: Western Michigan junior guard Michael Redell led five Broncos in double-figures with 17 points to help WMU to the 86-69 victory over NIU on January 5, 2008. NIU freshman guard Michael Patton posted a game-high 20 points, including four three-pointers.
Cancelled Contests: Northern Illinois' previously scheduled games against Toledo (Feb. 20) and Tennessee State (Feb. 24) will not be made up.
Perfect From The Line: Junior forward Sean Smith has made his last 16 free throw attempts, while junior guard Jarvis Nichols has converted his last 15 charity shots.
Trey Bien: Freshman Michael Patton knocked down a team-season high five three-pointers against Akron (Feb. 12), giving him a team-best 29 trifectas. Patton's 29 treys are the most by a Huskie freshman since Anthony Maestranzi connected for 29 during the 2002-03 campaign.
Movin' On Up: Freshman guard Darion Anderson is the first Huskie rookie to lead the squad in scoring (11.0 ppg.) since NIU all-time leading scorer T.J. Lux averaged 15.2 points-per-game during the 1995-96 season. Anderson needs 35 more points to pass Chuck Schramm (1952-53) for the fourth most points scored in a season by a Huskie freshman.
20/20 Vision: Both Darion Anderson (24 points) and Michael Patton (22 points) reached the 20-point plateau against Akron, marking the first time since March 4, 2006 that the Huskies had two players score 20 points in the same contest. Todd Peterson posted a game-high 24 points, while Anthony Maestranzi had 20 tallies to help NIU to the 74-59 win and 2006 MAC West Division title over Western Michigan.
My Name Is: NIU freshman guard Darion Anderson also is referred to as "Jake", short for his middle name, Jakeon.
Like Father, Like Son: NIU head coach Ricardo Patton is one of 13 coaches across America, whose son is playing for his squad. Michael Patton is a freshman point guard for the Huskies, who is averaging 6.9 points-per-game.
Recruiting Class: NIU head coach Ricardo Patton has inked four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, including guards Mike Dinunno (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben), Bryan Hall (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), Dominique Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Southwest Tennessee C.C.) and forward Tyler Storm (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo) to play for the Huskies in 2008.
Welcome Back Jake: Since his return to the starting line-up, freshman guard Darion Anderson is averaging 15.0 points-per-game in NIU's last seven contests.
Double-Digit Darion: Freshman guard Darion Anderson has scored in double-figures in each of his last six contests. The last Huskie to accomplish that feat in seven consecutive games was Mike McKinney who did it in 10 straight contests as a freshman in 2003-04.
Hot Shooting: NIU shot a season-best 64.6% (31-for-48) from the field against Akron on February 12, their best performance since a 65.0% (26-for-40) outing against Toledo on January 24, 2006. It was their best road shooting performance since February 19, 1983, when the Huskies shot 64.8% (35-for-54) against Toledo.
Are You Experienced?: Of NIU's 11 active players, the Huskies have seven student-athletes who are in their first season of Division I basketball.
Freshman `20': With his 20 point performance against Western Michigan on January 5, guard Michael Patton became NIU's second freshman this season, joining Darion Anderson, to reach the 20-point plateau in a game. The last time NIU had two freshmen each score at least 20 points in a game during a season was during the 1973-74 campaign, when both Carroll Holmes and Ricky Hicks each accomplished that feat.
Fine Freshman: Huskie guard Darion Anderson is the top scoring freshman in the Mid-American Conference (as of Feb. 24), averaging 11.0 points-per-game.
Blazin' Bench: The NIU bench outscored the Huskie starters 41-22 in the 77-63 loss to Central Michigan on Saturday (Jan. 18), marking the seventh time this season, the most in NIU Division I history, that the reserves have accomplished that feat.
Long Lost Range: Senior Zach Pancratz is sitting out the 2007-08 season after undergoing left shoulder surgery to correct continued instability in his non-shooting arm. Last season, Pancratz led the Huskies with 51 trifectas.
Up Next: The Huskies host Central Michigan for a 2 p.m. (CST) tip-off at the NIU Convocation Center on Saturday, March 1.
