Saturday, December 27, 2014

NIU Huskies Return Home to Host Hampton


NIU (4-5, 0-0 MAC) vs. Hampton (6-6, 2-0 MEAC)
Date / Time: Monday, December 29, 2014/
Site: NIU Convocation Center • DeKalb, Ill.
TV: ESPN3
Radio: WLBK 1360-AM, 98.9-FM (DeKalb), WIND 560-AM (Chicago) or online at NIUHuskies.com
Live Stats: NIUHuskies.com
Twitter Updates: @NIUscores
All-time Series: First Meeting
7 p.m. CT

DEKALB, Illinois – After playing four of its last five on the road, the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team returns home for its final two non-conference games of the season, beginning on Monday night (Dec. 29) as it hosts Hampton.

HUSKIE QUICK HITS
• NIU is playing a member of the MEAC for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Huskies defeated Bethune-Cookman, 65-51, on Jan. 3, 2014. 
• Aaron Armstead is averaging 11.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game over the last three games, going 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) from three-point range during that stretch.
• Pete Rakocevic is shooting 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the floor over the last three games, including 5-of-8 last time out against Notre Dame (Dec. 22). 
• The Huskies committed a season-low 10 turnovers last time out against Notre Dame (Dec. 22). 
• Notre Dame’s 91 points was a season-high for a Huskie opponent; its 58.9 percent shooting from the field is the highest an opponent has shot against NIU during Mark Montgomery’s four-year tenure. 
• Travon Baker recorded the 100th steal of his NIU career at Notre Dame (Dec. 22). • With its 71-64 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 16, NIU has won nine consecutive home games dating back to last season. NIU’s current home winning streak is its longest since winning nine-straight home games from the final home game of 1993-94 (Feb. 26, 1994) through the first eight games of the 1994-95 season (Jan. 3, 1995).
• Darrell Bowie currently leads NIU, and is 19th in the MAC, in scoring (12.1 ppg) and is second on the team, and 11th in the league, in rebounding (6.8 rpg).

ABOUT HAMPTON

• The Pirates of Hampton come to DeKalb with a 6-6 overall record, 2-0 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. Hampton’s last contest was a 75-66 home win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 21.
• Three players are scoring in double figures for Hampton, led by 12.3 points per game for Quinton Chievous; he is also Hampton’s leading rebounder at 8.2 boards per contest. Dwight Meikle (12.2 ppg) and Deron Powers (10.3 ppg) also score in double figures for the Pirates.
• After starting the season 1-5, Hampton has won five of its last six games. The lone blemish during that stretch is a 73-55 setback at Illinois (Dec. 17).
• Hampton has nine players playing 10-plus minutes per game.

THE ALL-TIME SERIES
• Monday’s contest marks the first all-time meeting between NIU and Hampton.
• NIU is playing a member of the MEAC for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Huskies defeated Bethune-Cookman, 65-51, on Jan. 3, 2014.

NOTRE DAME RECAP
• NIU fell to the 16th-ranked Fighting Irish, 91-66. All five starters for Notre Dame scored in double figures.
• Three players scored in double figures for NIU, led by 15 points from Darrell BowieAaron Armstead (13) andPete Rakocevic (10) each had double figures off the bench as the Huskie reserves scored 33 points.
• The Huskies committed a season-low 10 turnovers against the Fighting Irish.
• Notre Dame’s 91 points was a season-high for a Huskie opponent; its 58.9 percent shooting from the field is the highest an opponent has shot against NIU during Mark Montgomery’s four-year tenure.

HITTING THEIR STRIDE
• A pair of Huskies, senior guard Aaron Armstead and senior center Pete Rakocevic, have seen significant increases in their offensive production of the last three games.
• Aaron Armstead is averaging 11.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game over the last three games, going 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) from three-point range during that stretch.
• Armstead scored a season-high 13 points last time out at Notre Dame (Dec. 22), including four three-pointers. Armstead also connected on four triples at Dartmouth (Dec. 19) and made three trifectas against Mississippi Valley State (Dec. 16).
• Armstead ranks eighth in the MAC in three-point percentage, shooting 45.5 percent on the season.
• Rakocevic is shooting 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the floor over the last three games, including 5-of-8 last time out against Notre Dame (Dec. 22).
• Rakocevic is averaging 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds over the last three games. He had averaged 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds over the first six games of the season.
• In the first game of the current three-game stretch, Rakocevic tied a career-high with three blocks against Mississippi Valley State (Dec. 16).

COURTESY NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

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