Senior guards Rodney Davis and Randy Norman stole the show in the NIU men’s basketball team’s win over Central Florida Tuesday.

The all-Aurora backourt will have to be on the top of its game again Saturday at 2 p.m. when NIU visits Southern Illinois. The Huskies originally traveled to Carbondale on Dec. 19, but that game was cancelled when the officials failed to show.

The ability of the Huskie guards to slow down the Salukis’ run-and-gun offense could be pivotal for NIU’s chances. Two guards lead SIU in scoring. Steve Middleton (24.7 points per game) and Kai Nurnberger (17.8 ppg) occupy two of the top five spots in Missouri Valley Conference scoring.

“Of the people we’ve played, they’re very close to being the best pair we’ve seen,” said NIU head coach Jim Rosborough of Middleton and Nurnberger. The guard tandem combined for 48 points Monday in SIU’s 77-56 defeat of Tulsa.

Rosborough indicated that Norman might start in place of sophomore Brett Andricks, who could miss Friday’s practice because of an exam. The second-year coach was pleased with Norman’s effort Tuesday and said the Huskies’ three-point weapon is “a solid part of this team.” Norman had seen action only twice in the team’s previous five games.

Whoever plays for NIU, Rosborough wants to see a more disciplined game against SIU. The Huskies will have a difficult time keeping up with the Salukis, he said.

“We don’t want to get into an all-out running game,” Rosborough said, though he admited the fans enjoy a high-scoring duel. “Scoring is fun—96 to 86 (against Central Florida) is fun basketball.”

But Rosborough knows the only real fun comes from winning, which the Huskies have done twice in their last three outings. That’s why he is approaching the Huskies’ two-game road trip—they visit Kansas State Monday—with a bit of psychology.

“It’s like we’re in the midst of a big-time conference race,” Rosborough told his team. “It’s what big-time college basketball is all about.”

A victory at Carbondale Saturday would give NIU a 2-1 record against MVC opponents this season. The Huskies lost 84-78 to Bradley at the Rockford MetroCentre and upset Drake on the road 80-78.

NIU’s record stands at 6-17 while the Salukis sport a 9-14 mark, 4-7 in MVC play. SIU beat the Huskies 87-74 last season in DeKalb as NIU was outshot 51 percent to 39.5 percent, and Davis and Norman combined for just 18 points.