Men’s basketball will look to improve to 16-3 on the year as it takes on conference rival Akron.

The Zips ended the Huskies’ four-game winning streak, as well as their season, the last time the two teams met. NIU’s slow start combined with Akron’s hot shooting (57.1 percent from three) helped the Zips build a 28-point halftime lead to down the Huskies in the March 9 game.

NIU

• NIU has won 14-straight home games, a school record, dating back to last season.

• NIU is second in scoring defense in the MAC (64.2 ppg).

• NIU is first in scoring margin, with a margin of +12.3 and first in rebounding margin with a +7.8 margin.

• The team is currently first in the MAC in offensive rebounding.

• The Huskies are second in the MAC in assists (15.8 apg).

• Sophomore center Marin Maric is 14th in the MAC in scoring, averaging 13.6 points per game. Maric has scored in double figures in 14 consecutive games.

• Senior guard Travon Baker is second in assists/turnover ratio in the MAC at 2.3. Baker is fourth in steals (1.5 spg) and fifth in assists (4.1 apg).

Akron

• Akron is sixth in scoring offense in the MAC (76.7 ppg) and third in scoring defense (67.5 ppg).

• The Zips are second behind NIU in the MAC in scoring margin, with a +9.2 margin.

• Akron is third in the MAC in three-point field goal percentage (38 percent) and first in three-point field goals made, averaging 11.1 per game.

• Akron ranks third behind NIU in the MAC in assists (14.7 apg).

• Junior center Isaiah Johnson is sixth in the MAC for both rebounding (8.1 rpg) and blocked shots (1.4 bpg). Johnson is third behind Maric in offensive rebounds in the MAC, averaging 2.9 per game.

The game will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Akron, Ohio.