Looking to avoid its ninth straight loss, the NIU men’s basketball team will tip off against Bowling Green at 7:05 p.m. today at the Convocation Center.

Bowling Green (10-13 overall, 6-7 MAC) has played three of its past four games on the road and has dropped all three road contests.

The three losses were to division leaders Kent State and Western Michigan and the East’s second-place team Miami-Ohio.

“They are a confident team,” NIU coach Rob Judson said. “They believe they can win on the road.”

NIU (7-16, 2-11) has lost eight straight games, the most since the 2000-’01 season when the Huskies lost nine in a row on their way to an all-time worst record of 5-23.

NIU’s Marcus Smallwood will be available for action, Judson said.

Smallwood hasn’t played since a Feb. 4 loss to Kent State because of a coach’s decision.

Smallwood is the team’s leading scorer (14.3 ppg) and rebounder (9.8 rpg).

In the two teams’ last meeting on Jan. 10, which ended in a 76-69 win for Bowling Green, BGSU forward Cory Eyink played only seven minutes and scored two points.

Eyink was inserted into the starting lineup for two games last week and averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Falcons. The 6-foot-8 junior led the conference in three-point shooting last season.

“He’s a good three-point shooter and he’s added a lot to the team,” Judson said. “He’s a big guy who can stretch the defense.”

Along with Eyink’s three-point shooting, Bowling Green has three players who average in double figures. Sophomore Ron Lewis leads the team at 18.2 points per game, while John Reimold and Kevin Netter average 14.9 and 13 points, respectively.

“They have three guys that are able to score and that’s a big plus,” Judson said.

Notes:

– Senior Al Sewasciuk will be available for today’s game.

The 6-foot-4 guard has been nursing a sore calf muscle since Jan 14. Judson said he isn’t 100 percent recovered but may see action.

– Redshirt sophomore Bryson McKenzie will undergo surgery today to repair his knee-cap.

The kneecap didn’t heal after the first surgery and needs to be put back in line, Judson said.

The surgery will be performed at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.