The NIU men’s basketball team has sounded very Zen-like lately.

“Coach Judson always tells us to stay in the moment,” Anthony Maestranzi said. “Ball State played us tough here so we know they are a real good team.”

A potential trap game awaits NIU (15-10 overall, 10-6 MAC) tonight at Ball State. If NIU and WMU post victories tonight, then the season finale at WMU would determine the MAC West champion. But first, NIU must avoid BSU (9-16, 5-11) as it tries to play the role of spoiler.

NIU topped BSU at the Convocation Center Feb. 1, 73-67 for its fifth win in a row. James Hughes poured in 18 points, and NIU shot 59 percent from the field.

The NIU win streak would stretch to six before the bottom fell out with a 0-3 Eastern Division road trip.

“The last time we got on a roll we lost at Ohio, Kent State and Winthrop,” Maestranzi said. “We want to make sure that doesn’t happen again. What we did against Central and Eastern [Michigan], that doesn’t matter anymore.”

NIU has won two straight, and posted a resounding Senior Day win on Sunday when Todd Peterson collected his 1,000th career point. Maestranzi scored 15 points and shot a perfect three for three from three-point land.

Minutes continue to be split at the center position, as Hughes continues to improve his conditioning after missing time with concussive symptoms. Bryson McKenzie started the last three games in the pivot and pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game in that span.

The emergence of Craig Reichel could give NIU a three-headed monster in the post, as the freshman scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds in 15 minutes against EMU.

NIU will be without forward Ben Rand’s services and his 7.7 points per game for the rest of the season. Rand went down with a knee injury in the second half against EMU that will keep him in street clothes for the rest of the season.

“I feel bad for Ben because he is a such hard worker,” Maestranzi said. “He’s such a great teammate; he always has a team first attitude.”

BSU lost four of its last five games and has a record of 6-7 on its home court. Its players will wear retro jerseys to commemorate their 1980-81 MAC Championship season.