Mid-American Conference play starts for the NIU men’s basketball team when it travels to play Marshall Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

“I think its good we play a MAC game in December,” NIU coach Rob Judson said, “to get the conference season started and see how you stack up against another team in your league.”

Headed to Huntington, W. Va. to face the 5-3 Thundering Herd, NIU brings a 1-4 record along.

Losing two of its last three games by a total of 12 points and defeating Texas Southern, NIU is on an upswing and playing with added confidence.

“Hard work at anything gives you confidence,” Judson said. “Our players are more confident because of the effort they’ve put in, not only in games but also in practice.”

Marshall, like NIU’s last opponent of South Florida, houses two pro prospects in J.R. VanHoose and Tamar Slay.

Van Hoose is a 6-foot-10, 245-pound center who was tied for the nation lead for most double-doubles with 20.

Slay is a slender 6-foot-9 swingman with a on-target jumper and a capable slasher.

“Marshall poses a great inside-outside threat,” Judson said. “They also have a power forward in Latece Williams who is good.”

Williams (6-foot-8, 240-pounds), along with Slay and VanHoose are all seniors and bring with a wealth of experience.

Despite Marshall’s tall lineup, the Huskies will stick with what Judson calls his small lineup that they’ve used the past three games.

Although 6-foot-10 Matt Nelson and 6-foot-9 Mike Morrison are not predicted to start, Judson hopes for solid play out of the two to combat VanHoose.

“We’ll start with the smaller lineup, but then we’ll need to combat their size with some of our own,” Judson said. “Quickness usually wins out in basketball, not always, but usually.

“They are a good team, and it will be a challenge for us to go and play our first away MAC game. It is a toss up between Kent State and Marshall for that East Division championship.”