Since the beginning of the 2001-’02 season, no men’s basketball team in the MAC has won more games than Kent State.

But unlike past seasons, this year the Golden Flashes do not have a superstar.

Today, the Flashes (14-3, 8-1) will bring their league-best MAC record to play NIU (7-12, 2-7) at 7:05 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

“They’ve done real well,” NIU coach Rob Judson said. “What they really have is continuity and confidence. They have different players every year step up.”

Two seasons ago, Kent State made it all the way to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament behind First Team All-MAC selection Trevor Huffman.

Last year, it was Antonio Gates, the runner-up for MAC Player of the Year, who led Kent State to its second consecutive East Division title.

This year has been different.

Kent State’s leading scorer, John Edwards, ranks 15th in the conference at 13.3 points per game.

Edwards is also the team’s leading rebounder at 6.4 points per game – 10th in the conference.

“Each player is a threat,” said Judson of KSU who has three players in double-figure scoring. “They have a great team concept and chemistry. They know when to go to the hot hand.”

The team concept has put Kent State third in the conference in scoring offense and second in scoring defense.

The Golden Flashes also lead the conference in scoring margin, assist-to-turnover ratio, turnover margin and three-point shooting percentage.

“They have very few holes,” Judson said. “Kent State doesn’t beat itself. Its defense is really solid. They give other teams a thin margin for error.”

Kent State enters the game the winner of four games in a row and nine of its last 10. The Huskies have dropped six of their last seven contests.

The Huskies won last year’s meeting at Kent State 67-61 behind Todd Peterson’s 17 points and 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range.

Wednesday’s game will mark the first time Kent State has played in the Convocation Center.