Wednesday, March 12th, 3:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Quicken Loans Arena (20,562) -- Cleveland, Ohio. Television: None. Home Record: NIU 5-7, CMU 8-8. Away Record: NIU 1-12, CMU 5-12. Neutral Record: NIU 0-2, CMU 0-1. Conference Record: NIU 3-12, CMU 8-8. Series Record: Northern Illinois leads, 71-66.

GAME NOTES: The 11th-seed and sixth-seed will collide this afternoon in the opening round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, as the Northern Illinois Huskies will do battle with the Central Michigan Chippewas at Quicken Loans Arena. There were not many bright spots for the Huskies this season, as the team finished with just six victories. The team closed out its season with nine losses in its last 10 games, falling to 3-12 in league play. NIU has not won the MAC since 1982 and playing out of the 11th-seed, it is hard to imagine that the team will claim its second-ever MAC championship. As for the Chippewas, they posted a mediocre 8-8 mark in league play, and stumbled a bit down the stretch, losing five of their last eight games. Central Michigan has won this tournament twice, with the most recent victory occurring in 2003. With respect to the all-time series between the two schools on the hardwood, the Huskies have a slim, 71-66 edge over Central Michigan. However, the Chippewas have won the last four games, including both meetings this season.

Northern Illinois was not successful at either end of the floor this season, but the team's main issue was its play defensively, as the squad surrendered a whopping 75.1 ppg on the year. NIU forced less than 15 turnovers per matchup and collected just 167 steals on the year. At the other end of the floor, the Huskies were inconsistent at best, as the team averaged only 65.5 ppg, while shooting a mere 41.9 percent from the floor. Darion Anderson has been the most consistent player for NIU, as the guard is leading the squad with 11.9 ppg, while also posting 5.1 rpg and a team-high 73 assists. Jarvis Nichols is shooting well below 40.0 percent on the season, but the guard is the only other player netting double figures, as he enters the contest posting 10.1 ppg.

The Chippewas head into this contest averaging a solid 71.2 ppg on the year, but the main source of production has come fro Giordan Watson. Watson has carried this team throughout the season, and is the only player netting double figures on the roster, scoring 16.4 ppg. Watson is also leading the squad with 131 assists and 55 steals on the season. Nate Minnoy has been the best option in the paint for CMU, but the forward is only chipping in 8.8 ppg, while collecting just 3.9 rpg. However, what has hampered this squad throughout the season has been its inability to play defensive, as the Chippewas are surrendering 72.1 ppg, which ranks the team 10th in the MAC.

The Chippewas will only go as far as Watson will take them, and against the Huskies this season he led them to two wins. Northern Illinois has struggled tremendously at the defensive end of the floor and since the team does not have any dangerous offensive weapons, it should be a short tournament stay for NIU.

Predicted Outcome

Central Michigan 72, Northern Illinois 65