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DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team takes to the floor in the NIU Convocation Center for the final time this season on Tuesday night, March 3, as the Huskies host Kent State. Tipoff against the Golden Flashes is slated for 7 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. The contest will also be available on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM in DeKalb.
With two games left in the regular season, the Huskies need to win both games to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Mid-American Conference Tournament alive. NIU is coming off a home setback on Saturday against Ball State.
In the first meeting against Kent State this season, Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) scored a career-high 27 points to lead NIU, the most points scored by a Huskie this season. Valentine has scored in double figures in 20 of the last 23 games. He is currently tied for eighth with Travon Baker (2015-16) on NIU’s single-season three-point field goal list with 67.
Gianni Cobb (Chicago, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) is averaging 14.3 points, 4.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game over the last four contests, shooting 87.5 percent (14-of-16) from the free-throw line. Cobb has 111 assists this season and is just two away from Anthony Maestranzi’s school record for assists by a sophomore of 113 set in 2003-04.
The Golden Flashes bring a 21-8 mark into Tuesday’s contest, including a 12-4 record in league play. Kent State is coming off a 92-70 setback at home against Akron last time out (Feb. 27). Five players score in double figures for Kent State, led by Delrecco Gillespie who averages 18.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Gillespie is fourth in the MAC in scoring and first in rebounding.
This will be the 71st all-time meeting between NIU and Kent State. The Golden Flashes won the first meeting this season, 77-73, in Kent (Jan. 3, 2026).
Following Tuesday’s contest, NIU will finish the regular season on Friday, March 6, when the Huskies travel to Akron. Game time against the Zips is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.