Men’s basketball set to defend home streak

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By Krystal Ward

Men’s basketball (15-3, 4-1 MAC) is set to take on Toledo (12-6, 3-2 MAC) for the second time in two weeks after winning a nail-biter against Central Michigan on Tuesday.

The Huskies and Rockets last met Jan. 12 in Ohio. NIU won the matchup 71-66, led by senior guard Travon Baker’s 23 points.

Toledo got large contributions from senior center Nathan Boothe and junior guard Jonathan Williams in the outing. Boothe recorded 30 points and nine rebounds on 10-16 shooting in 32 minutes of action. Williams added another 21 points on 6-13 shooting.

Senior wing Chuks Iroegbu had two key driving layups late in the game for NIU and sophomore center Marin Maric also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

The Huskies are No. 1 in the MAC West and undefeated at home. The team has already surpassed its win total from last season (14) and have just one conference loss (Western Michigan). Toledo ranks second in the west division, three games back of NIU.

Toledo

• No. 1 scoring offense in the conference.

• The team is +8.3 in scoring margin, third in the MAC.

• No. 1 in field goal percentage and top five in three-point field goal percentage.

• No. 1 in assists in the conference, averaging 17.2 per game.

• No. 1 in assist/turnover ratio, with a ratio of 1.6.

• No. 11 in both blocked shots and offensive rebounding in the MAC.

• No. 1 in the MAC in three-point field goals made per game with an average of 10.1.

• Senior Nathan Boothe and junior Jonathan Williams rank first and second in the MAC in scoring. Boothe averages 19.8 points and Williams averages 18.6 points.

• Boothe is averaging 8.8 rebounds per game this season, good for third in the conference.

• Boothe and sophomore Stuckey Mosely are top 10 in the MAC in assists. Boothe averages 3.7 and Mosely averages 3.6.

• Boothe averages 6.7 defensive rebounds per game, second in the conference.

NIU

• The Huskies are 12-0 at home this season.

• No. 1 in scoring margin and No. 2 in scoring defense in the conference.

• NIU is first in field goal percentage defense and top five in three-point field goal percentage defense.

• No. 1 in rebounding margin, outrebounding opponents by a +7.8 margin.

• The Huskies are ranked No. 2 in assists in the MAC behind Toledo, averaging over 15 per game.

• NIU is ranked in the top five in blocked shots in the conference, averaging 3.8 per game.

• No. 2 in assists in the MAC, averaging 7.4 per game.

• Ranked No. 1 in defensive rebounds and No. 2 in offensive rebounds, averaging 28.1 and 13.1 per game, respectively.

• Baker ranks fourth in the MAC in steals and fifth in assists, averaging 1.5 and 4.1 respectively.

• Baker and junior guard Michael Orris rank second and third in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio, both with a 2.3 ratio.

• Maric is averaging 3.3 offensive rebounds per game, second in the conference.

Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Convocation Center and will be televised on CBS Sports Network. The Huskies will move to 16-4 on the year with a win. It would be their highest win total since 2005-06 when they went 17-11. They’ll also move to 13-0 at home with a victory.