The NIU men’s basketball team will need to find its peace of mind on the road over break.

The Huskies (3-4) play seven of eight winter break games away from the Convocation Center.

Despite a recent four-game losing skid, NIU coach Rob Judson is upbeat and likes how the pieces of his team fit together. After six days of rest, NIU will head to Ann Arbor for a 1 p.m. showdown on Saturday at Michigan.

In a road trip destined to build up frequent flyer miles, NIU will cram in four games around Christmas: two in Texas and two in New York.

The Texas tango will be with Lamar (5-5) and Stephen F. Austin (5-4) on Dec. 20 and 22.

NIU opens the Pepsi-Marist Classic against Marist (8-2) on the Dec. 29. If the Huskies are victorious, they will face the winner of Bucknell vs. Central Arkansas (4-5) the next day.

NIU tips off the MAC portion of its schedule with three games against Michigan schools: Western Michigan (3-6) at 2 p.m. on Jan. 6 at the Convocation Center, Eastern Michigan (1-7) at 6 p.m. on Jan. 9 in Ypsilanti, and back home against Central Michigan (3-5) at 5 p.m. on Jan. 13. NIU then heads to Ball State (3-6) for a 6 p.m. game on Jan. 16.

James Nokes is a Men’s Basketball beat reporter for the Northern Star.

The cold weather that comes with winter may be the only thing that could cool off the NIU women’s basketball team.

The Huskies (6-2) currently boast a four-game winning streak, including wins over Cincinnati and Northwestern.

NIU will be ringing in the New Year with its first MAC contest when they face Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti on Jan. 3.

The game will be NIU’s fourth consecutive on the road, marking the longest road stint they will have all season.

Before conference play opens, the Huskies have non-conference match-ups against Bradley, UIC and Kansas.

The Huskies go up against one of the leading scorers in the MAC when they play Eastern Michigan. Patrice McKinney is averaging more than 15 points a game.

When NIU returns home on Jan. 6, Central Michigan will be waiting for them. Like the Huskies, CMU is 5-4 thus far, and is currently on a three-game winning streak.

“It’s going to be exciting when conference play starts,” Owens said. “These non-conference games are important, but conference is where you need be on top of your game; day in, day out.”

Andy Pruski is a Sports Reporter for the Northern Star.