In the second game of last season, the NIU men’s basketball team thought it was headed to overtime against Southwest Missouri State.

Having battled back from an eight-point deficit, NIU held the momentum.

That was until Deke Thompson ran the length of the floor and hit a 12-footer with four seconds left to give SWMS a 65-63 win.

NIU would like to get that win back when it takes the court at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in Springfield, Mo., against the now renamed Missouri State.

The Huskies have just one exhibition game under their belts, so this weekend’s game will be good to see where the Huskies stand at the beginning of the season, NIU coach Rob Judson said.

In its lone game, NIU consistently attacked the basket and pulled away from sharp-shooting Benedictine 101-53.

But while the offense seemed to be clicking, it was the defense that had Judson a little worried.

Benedictine started the game by making 5-of-7 three-pointers due to numerous open shots. While NIU eventually buckled down, defense is something Judson figures to be stressing for much of the beginning of the season.

“On defense we are not as sharp as we need to be,” the fifth-year coach said.

“We are still working on communication, and no matter what, you can always get better on defense.”

And a close game is exactly what Judson expects in his season opener.

Despite losing leading scorer Tamarr Maclin, the Bears still have their second and third leading scorers in Blake Ahearn and Thompson, respectively.

“They’re a very talented team, as we saw last year,” Judson said. “They have some good players and play a very tough style of basketball.”

That tough style has led to a 2-0 start for MSU in which it has an average margin of victory of a little more than 40 points.

Trying to lead their team to a better start than last year are senior Todd Peterson and junior Mike McKinney.

The pair combined for 35 points against Benedictine and look to be a key part in the Huskies’ offense this season.

But in the end it’s going to come down to whether NIU’s defense can hold up.

“That’s where we make our mark,” Judson said. “It’s what makes the differences in close games.”