- Matchup: UMass Minutemen vs Northern Illinois Huskies
- Event Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Venue: NIU Convocation Center, Dekalb, IL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The NIU Convocation Center will host an exciting matchup as the Northern Illinois Huskies (5-11) face off against the UMass Minutemen (11-7) this Saturday.
The UMass Minutemen recently recorded a thrilling victory against Western Michigan, winning the contest with a final score of 85-82. In terms of fouls, UMass committed 16, while Western Michigan had 18. UMass successfully converted 12 of their 31 attempts from beyond the arc. Western Michigan shot 75% from the free-throw line, sinking 12 of their 16 attempts. The Minutemen managed to secure 30 rebounds, with 9 being offensive. UMass achieved 17 assists and forced 10 turnovers, alongside 8 steals. Defensively, UMass allowed Western Michigan to shoot 47.5% from the field (29 of 61). They completed the game with a field goal percentage of 47.5% (29 out of 61) and nailed 11 of their 29 three-point shots while hitting 16 out of 20 free throws for an 80% completion rate.
Marcus Banks Jr. played a pivotal role in the game, shooting 44.4% from the floor, totaling 22 points on 8 of 18 shooting, along with 1 assist and 4 rebounds over 35 minutes of play.
Entering this contest, UMass holds a solid record of 11-7 this season. They average 80.8 points per game, ranking 108th nationally, while shooting 46.5% from the field. From three-point range, the Minutemen are making 34.6% of their attempts (137 of 396), and they are converting 67.2% of their free throws. As a team, UMass collects an average of 38.5 rebounds per game and boasts 326 assists this season, which places them 16th in the nation for assists. Their turnover rate stands at 13.6 per game, while they commit an average of 20.9 personal fouls.
Defensively, UMass forces 13.0 turnovers per game while drawing 20.2 personal fouls. They permit opponents to shoot 28.9% from three-point territory and rank 204th in Division 1 for points allowed per game (74.4). The Minutemen’s defense allows a field goal percentage of 43.9% (449 of 1,022) and concedes an average of 31.9 rebounds per game. They rank 276th in the nation in assists allowed, with 256 assists surrendered this year.
In their last game, the Northern Illinois Huskies fell short against Eastern Michigan, ending with a score of 77-59. The Huskies pulled down 27 defensive rebounds and captured 6 offensive boards for a total of 33 rebounds. They had 12 turnovers and recorded 5 steals throughout the matchup. Eastern Michigan committed 17 fouls, allowing the Huskies to attempt 19 free throws, of which they made 11 for a shooting percentage of 57.9%. The Huskies shot 21 of 59 from the field, resulting in a shooting percentage of 35.6%, while allowing Eastern Michigan to achieve 49.2% shooting (30 of 61). From three-point territory, Northern Illinois converted 6 of 25 attempts (24.0%) and shot 80% from the free-throw line, making 12 of 15 attempts. On the rebounding front, Northern Illinois allowed Eastern Michigan to secure 37 total rebounds (5 offensive).
Makhai Valentine was a standout player for the Huskies in this matchup, scoring 20 points in 31 minutes on the court. He posted a 45.5% shooting percentage (5 of 11) and added 6 rebounds along with 1 assist.
Northern Illinois stands at 5-11 this season. They are ranked 302nd in college basketball for field goal percentage, collectively shooting 42.7% from the field. The Huskies have accumulated 1,186 points this season, averaging 74.1 points per game, and they secure 36.8 rebounds per game. With an average of 13.4 assists per game (ranking 244th in Division 1), they experience turnovers at a rate of 15.8 times per game and commit an average of 19.4 personal fouls. Northern Illinois connects on 66.8% of their free throw attempts.
The Huskies are ranked 299th in Division 1 for points allowed per game (78.1). They force opponents into 12.8 turnovers each game while allowing a field goal percentage of 48.2%, placing them 345th in college basketball. Their defense allows opponents to shoot 32.0% from beyond the arc (118 of 369) and permits a free-throw shooting rate of 71.3%. They also yield an average of 14.4 assists and 33.1 rebounds per game, ranking them 256th and 101st in these statistics on the defensive side.
Who will seize victory in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Pick: Back UMass
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