DEKALB, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Kent State looks to rebound from a rare misstep when it visits struggling Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball matchup Tuesday night. The Golden Flashes (21-8) enter the Convocation Center having won seven of their last nine games, though they are coming off a 92-70 home loss to Akron last Friday. Prior to that, they had strung together a five-game winning streak. Northern Illinois (9-19) has lost three straight and eight of its last ten, including a 79-43 defeat to Ball State on Saturday. Kent State’s success has been fueled by guard Cian Medley, a dynamic playmaker who has been a model of consistency. Over his last seven games, Medley is averaging 11.0 points and 6.6 assists, including a 15-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist performance in a narrow road loss at Southern Miss and a 13-point, 10-assist double-double in a win over Eastern Michigan. His ability to control the tempo will be central against the Huskies. Northern Illinois, meanwhile, seeks a spark after being held under 50 points in its last outing. Guard Daemar Kelly, who scored a team-high nine points in that loss to Ball State, will need to provide more offensive punch for a team that has frequently struggled to score. The Huskies’ last win was a 72-70 victory at Buffalo on Feb. 17. The teams met earlier this season, with Kent State securing a 77-73 home win on Jan. 3. The Golden Flashes have dominated the recent series, winning the last five meetings. A victory would bolster Kent State’s positioning for the upcoming MAC tournament, where they are expected to be a top contender. For Northern Illinois, the game represents an opportunity to play spoiler and build momentum before concluding the regular season at Akron on Friday. Kent State hosts Western Michigan in its finale the same night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST at the Convocation Center.