The NIU men’s basketball team hopes to have a few elements of momentum in its favor at 7:05 p.m. today against Bradley.

Huskie coach Rob Judson said he would like a vibrant student turnout with a “Huskie Hooptime” night.

Students wearing “Huskie Hooptime” bracelets to the 7:05 p.m. matchup at the Convocation Center will receive free popcorn, pop and a “Convo Nation” T-shirt.

“We hope to have a great student crowd,” Judson said. “The crowd’s ability to make an opponent miss a free-throw or throw a team off rhythm when they’re trying to make a play all add up.”

The second boost will be the team’s momentum from its 84-69 Saturday win over Conference USA opponent DePaul.

“Bradley’s a good team, and with the way we played against DePaul, that only helps,” guard Zach Pancratz said. “The fans are going to see how well we’re playing, and they’ll want to come see that.”

Judson, who was an assistant coach for the Braves from 1991-’96, was an assistant coach for NIU in the two teams’ last meeting prior to last year’s 76-67 Braves win.

Bradley returns six of its 14-man squad from last year, and only one player with more than a year of Division I experience.

Bradley has three players averaging 15 points or more per game in Phillip Gilbert (16.0), Marcellus Sommerville (15.6) and James Gillingham (15.1).

For the Huskies, Paige Paulsen, who led NIU with 19 points against DePaul, felt that with the momentum, his team would be tough to beat.

“We’re finding our offense and getting into our niche,” the 6-foot-7 sophomore said. “We’re starting to trust ourselves and what the coaches are telling us.”