Men’s basketball (18-8, 7-6 MAC) will take on Central Michigan University(14-12, 7-6 MAC) Tuesday in its quest for a 20-win season.

NIU head coach Mark Montgomery said the last meeting between the teams on Jan. 19 was a “typical MAC game.” NIU did not get off to a great start, allowing the Chippewas to shoot 53.6 percent (15-28) in the first half. The Huskies were down seven at the intermission but rallied in the second half, shooting 57.1 percent (16-28) from the field and allowing the Chippewas to shoot 31.8 percent (7-22). NIU won the game 75-70.

Senior guard Travon Baker scored a team-high 19 points for the Huskies on 7-15 shooting, grabbed five boards and swiped two steals. Four Chippewa players scored in double-figures with senior guard Chris Fowler leading the way with 16 points.

NIU is currently 15-1 at home this season, but has not fared well on the road going 3-7. The Chippewas have performed well in front of their home crowd despite their 2-7 road record, going 12-2 at home.

One advantage the Huskies will have in this game is rebounding the basketball. The Chippewas rank near the bottom in the MAC in both offensive and defensive rebounds while the Huskies are one of the top rebounding teams in the conference.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich. and the game will be televised on ESPN3.

Central Michigan

• Central Michigan is second in the MAC in three-point field goals made, averaging 9.8 per game and has a 1.4 assist/turnover ratio, also second in the MAC.

• Fourth in the MAC in free throw percentage (72 percent).

• Fifth in the MAC in field goal percentage (44 percent).

• Junior guard Braylon Rayson is sixth in the MAC in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game.

• Senior guard Rayshawn Simmons is second in the MAC in assists, averaging five per game.

•Three Chippewa players are in the top five for three-point field goals made in the MAC. Sophomore guard Josh Kozinski is second, averaging 2.7 per game. Rayson is third, averaging 2.5 per game. Senior forward John Simons is fifth, averaging 2.3 per game.

• Simons and Simmons are second and third in the MAC in minutes played. Simons averages 34.3 minutes and Simmons averages 33.2 minutes.

NIU

• NIU is second in scoring defense in the MAC, averaging 66.8 points per game and is second in steals, averaging 7.5 per game.

• The Huskies have a +7.5 scoring margin, third in the MAC. NIU is also third in assists, averaging 14.8 per game.

• No. 1 in the MAC in field goal percentage defense (39 percent) and offensive rebounds, averaging 12.5 per game.

• Sophomore center Marin Maric is fifth in the MAC in rebounding, averaging 8.5 per game. Maric is seventh in the MAC in blocked shots, averaging 1.2 per game.

• Baker is sixth in steals in the MAC, averaging 1.4 per game