The NIU men’s basketball team knocked a stubborn monkey off its back Saturday.

But head coach Jim Rosborough, who saw his team end a 10-game losing streak, knows the fans will not be satisfied with one in a row. The second-year NIU coach would like to see the end of fans wearing bags over their heads, as several did Saturday.

Following the Huskies’ 94-80 win over Central Connecticut State, Rosborough said his team had better be ready for Illinois-Chicago Monday at 7:05 p.m. The Flames come to Chick Evans Field House with a 7-16 record having won two of their last three games, including a 69-57 upset of Wisconsin-Green Bay Feb. 11.

“We’re going to have to battle our tails off Monday night,” said Rosborough, who was booed after his introduction Saturday. “I think we’ll come out and play better and harder.”

The Huskies saw UIC earlier this season during the Flames’ McLendon Classic. Though NIU did not play Illinois-Chicago during that tourney, it did lend the 5-16 Huskies an opportunity to see Monday night’s opponent in person.

The Flames, however, are not the same team that lost twice in two tries during their own tournament Jan. 6 and 7. The emergence of junior forward Derrick Johnson gives UIC a new look.

The 6-foot-8 Johnson scored 30 points against UWGB Thursday. But what might have been more remarkable were his 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocked shots in that game. He leads the Flames in rebounding at 9.5 a game.

UIC head coach Bob Hallberg said Johnson has been “just outstanding” of late, but senior Nate Chambers remains the Flames’ “most consistent scorer.” Chambers leads all UIC scorers at 15.9 ppg and is second in rebounding at 8.4 rebounds per game.

Hallberg listed another reason for his club’s improvement is the return of injured freshman Jeff Delaney. The first-year UIC coach said Delaney gives the Flames “an intelligence factor” that had been missing in his absence.

The Huskies will be looking for continued smart play of their own from guards Brett Andricks and Rodney Davis. Andricks forced several turnovers and dished off 9 assists Saturday, while Davis was charged with only one turnover.

“They’ll be a tough matchup for us,” Hallberg said of the Huskies. “I’ve always liked Davis.”