Preview: Northern Illinois Huskies at Central Michigan Chippewas MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — Two men’s basketball teams seeking momentum in the back half of the Mid-American Conference schedule will meet Saturday when the Northern Illinois Huskies visit the Central Michigan Chippewas at McGuirk Arena. The Huskies (8-15) and Chippewas (7-17) enter the Valentine’s Day matchup with nearly identical records and recent struggles. Northern Illinois is looking to rebound from a 68-52 home loss to Bowling Green on Wednesday. Central Michigan last played on Feb. 7, falling 85-80 at Louisiana-Lafayette. The game features a compelling backcourt matchup between two of the MAC’s top scorers. Northern Illinois will lean on guard Makhai Valentine, who is averaging 16.4 points over his last seven games. He is coming off a 15-point performance against Bowling Green and scored 27 in a win over Massachusetts last month. Central Michigan counters with guard Tamario Adley, who has been a consistent offensive catalyst. Adley is averaging 14.7 points over his last six contests, including a 21-point outing in the loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. His playmaking will be key; he dished out six assists in a 100-65 rout of Eastern Michigan on Jan. 27. The teams’ most recent meeting was a thriller, with Northern Illinois edging Central Michigan 74-73 in DeKalb on Dec. 20, 2025. Saturday’s rematch offers the Chippewas a chance for home-court revenge. Both squads have found wins elusive in conference play, making this a critical game for seeding in the upcoming MAC tournament. Northern Illinois has shown flashes, including a 75-74 road win at Georgia State on Feb. 7 and an 85-65 victory over Western Michigan. Central Michigan’s highlights include a 62-59 win over Bowling Green and the dominant performance against Eastern Michigan. The Huskies’ upcoming schedule includes a trip to Buffalo on Tuesday. The Chippewas will travel to face Eastern Michigan the same night. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Arena.