In its second exhibition game of the season, the NIU men’s basketball team will take on the NBC Thunder at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at the Convocation Center.

The Thunder, sponsored by Northwest Basketball Camps, defeated Eastern Illinois on Monday by a score of 99-88.

The projected starting lineup for NIU is 6-foot senior Jay Bates, 6-foot-4 Perry Smith, 6-foot-6 Jamel Staten, 6-foot-6 Marcus Smallwood and 6-foot-9 Mike Morrison.

According to NIU coach Rob Judson, the Thunder have former NBA player Craig Ehlo, as well as Jackie Johnson, a 6-foot-5 forward that he compares to Kent State’s All-MAC player Antonio Gates.

Former Kansas State player Danny Beard coaches the Thunder.

The game will be the Huskies’ last before they start the regular season this weekend at the NABC Classic in Madison, Wisc.

“We hope to take one step further as a team,” Judson said. “We want to shoot better and play better transition defense, as well as work on limiting the turnovers.”