CHICAGO (Interstat) — Two men’s NCAA Division I teams looking to halt slides will meet Thursday when the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights visit the Chicago State Cougars in a non-conference matchup organized by the Northeast Conference. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. CST tipoff at the Jones Convocation Center. Fairleigh Dickinson (10-17) enters having lost three of its last four, including a 63-57 home defeat to Central Connecticut on Saturday. The Knights had previously won three straight. Chicago State (6-21) has dropped two of its last three, most recently an 81-63 road loss to Le Moyne on Saturday. The Knights won the first meeting this season, 70-63, at home on Jan. 8. A key player for Fairleigh Dickinson is Arthur Cox, who is coming off a strong performance despite the loss. He scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 21 minutes against Central Connecticut. In the Jan. 8 win over Chicago State, Cox contributed 14 points and four assists. For Chicago State, forward Stephen Byard will be one to watch. He posted 10 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench in the loss to Le Moyne. In the Cougars’ most recent victory, a 68-55 win over Stonehill on Feb. 12, Byard had five points in eight minutes. Both teams have struggled to find consistency this season. Fairleigh Dickinson has shown flashes, including a three-game winning streak earlier this month, but has been unable to sustain momentum. Chicago State’s six wins match its total from the entire 2024-25 season, but the Cougars have lost four games by three points or fewer, indicating tight contests that have not fallen their way. The game represents a final non-conference opportunity for both squads before resuming their respective league schedules. Fairleigh Dickinson will host New Haven on Saturday, while Chicago State will welcome Central Connecticut on the same day. Thursday’s contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.