Welcome to the game thread from balmy Oxford, Ohio where the actual temperature as I type this is -2 degrees! Sorry I didn’t start this yesterday, lax in my duties, but we were traveling the frozen tundra! Miami returns to Millett Hall to take on NIU following the women’s game against OU. As of last night I believe Miami was favored by 16.5. But all you degenerate gamblers can fact check me on that! 
Miami is set to play just its second-ever game at Millett Hall as a
ranked team (both this week; previous home game as ranked team came in Feb. 1953 before Millett opened). With a win on Saturday, the RedHawks will claim the longest win streak in MAC history.
Northern Illinois is currently 7-13 (3-6 MAC), as the Huskies most recently defeated Western Michigan (85-65) at home Tuesday night. NIU went 6-25 (2-16 MAC) last year. Head coach Rashod Burno is in his fifth season with the Huskies. Heading into the 2025-26 season, NIU was selected to finish 13th overall in the 2025-26 MAC Preseason Men’s Basketball Poll.
Sophomore guard Makhai Valentine leads the Huskies in points (14.0/game) and freshman guard Dylan Ducommun trails just behind (12.9/game). Freshman guard Taj Walters has brought down the most rebounds (5.8/game) and Valentine has recorded the second most (5.4/game). Sophomore guard Gianni Cobb has totaled the most assists (4.1/game) and the most steals (1.9/game). Freshman Gustav Winther has produced the most blocks (0.5/game).
Let’s make NIU’s last game in Millett as a member of the MAC as miserable a time for NIU as we can!
