NIU, CMU head into matchup after rough weekend
On Saturday morning, Northern Illinois was the only team undefeated in Mid-American Conference play.
Less than five minutes into NIU's game Saturday against Western Michigan, the Huskies were trailing 9-2 and had four players ejected — including their second and third-leading scorers.
A flagrant foul from senior Detroit native Travon Baker set off a series of pushing and shoving near the NIU bench. Baker was ejected for a double flagrant while the other three were ejected for leaving the bench in the altercation.
No Broncos were suspended, and WMU went on to hand the Huskies (14-3, 3-1 MAC) their first loss of the MAC season 83-69.
All four Huskies return to the court Tuesday as NIU hosts Central Michigan at 8 p.m.
CMU (9-8, 2-2 MAC) was without its leading scorer, junior guard Braylon Rayson, for all of its 74-61 loss Saturday to the MAC Tournament defending champs, Buffalo. Rayson, averaging 17.4 points per game, was attending a funeral over the weekend. He will return to the starting lineup Tuesday.
Last time they met
NIU ended CMU's six-game winning streak last February in the last meeting between the two teams in a 73-55 blowout.
The highlight reel was filled with the dunk by NIU's Pete Rakocevic, which brought the hoop down inches away from the diving John Simons.
Tuesday will be the 101st meeting between the two teams, with NIU leading the matchup 52-48. CMU hasn't won in DeKalb since 2013.
