When the NIU men’s basketball team plays Davidson College tomorrow night at Johnston Gym in Davidson, N.C., it will be a battle between two teams that have recently turned independent.

NIU achieved independent status in 1986 after 11 seasons in the Mid-American Conference. Now, after two-and-a-half seasons, as an independent, the basketball Huskies are looking to join a conference again.

Davidson is experiencing its first taste of libery after 52 seasons in the Southern Conference. But the Wildcats may soon be wishing it were all a bad dream and will wake up and still be in the comfort and security of league affiliation.

After finishing its final Southern Conference season with a 15-13 record, Davidson will enter Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. (CST) shootout with the Huskies at 5-12. NIU stands at 4-11 and is in a seven-game tailspin following Wednesday night’s 94-71 loss at Northern Iowa.

Freshman guard Bruce Elder, sidelined for 10 games with a broken right hand, returned to the Wildcat lineup with a vengeance three games ago. The 6-4 swingman leads the Wildcats in scoring at 16.7 points-per-game and is on a 20 ppg run since returning.

NIU assistant coach Bill Harris, who scouted Davidson in its 85-75 win over Florida International Jan. 14, said Elder is a major concern of the Huskies. “Elder is a fine player,” Harris said. “He’s an outside threat and we’re going to have to be aware of his presence on the court.”

Speaking of runs, sophomore guard Stacy Arrington has been on one since his return to the Huskies from a prolonged absence. Arrington scored nine points against Iona in his first game back. Seventeen versus Eastern Illinois, 19 at Nebraska and 22 at Northen Iowa have raised his average to an even 16 ppg for the season.

Five-foot-ten point guard Alan Hunter scored 20 points in the victory over Florida International and averages 11.3 for the Wildcats.

“He’ll be a good matchup for Donald (Whitesides), Stacy and Marcu (Coty),” Harris said. “He’s got a strong body, good quickness and he can hit from outside.”

Huskies centers Antwon Harmon and Brent Varner will have their hands full with 6-11, 260-pound Wildcat pivotman Bill Sellers.

“Any time you have a guy at 6-11, 260, he’s going to take up a lot of space,” Harris said.