MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan travels to Northern Illinois looking to bounce back after a 95-90 loss to Ball State on Wednesday night in which five players scored in double figures. One of those was freshman guard Chris Fowler who is has emerged as a scorer, recording double-digits in the last four games and leading the team in the last two.
The Chippewas (9-18, 2-11) trail the all-time series against the Huskies (5-21, 3-10), 46-52, but have won 11 of the last 14 meetings. CMU had won 10 straight until splitting the pair last year. The Huskies came away with a 74-61 victory in Mount Pleasant earlier this season on Jan. 23.
Fowler has moved into seventh all-time in program history with 143 assists this season. His 13 assists at Ball State Wednesday marked a new career high and, with 18 points, was his first career double-double. Fowler is averaging over 14 points per game in the last four games.
• THE MATCHUP
Central Michigan at Northern Illinos
Saturday, March 2, 2013 • 8 p.m. ET
DeKalb, Ill. • Convocation Center (10,000)
• THE BROADCAST
Central Michigan at Northern Illinois• Saturday, March 2, 2013
Radio: Central Michigan IMG Sports Network - Flagship 95.3 WCFX-FM, Mount Pleasant
Don Chiodo (play-by-play); Robbie Harman (color analyst)
Web:
Live audio: cmuchippewas.com
Live stats: cmuchippewas.com
Live video: cmuchippewas.com
Twitter updates: @cmumensbball
• THE OPENING TIP
• The Chippewas wrap up a three-game road swing Saturday at Northern Illinois looking to avenge a 74-61 loss at home earlier this season to the Huskies.
• Chris Fowler is riding a string of four straight double-digit scoring games and dished out a career-best 13 assists at Ball State for his first double-double.
• At Ball State, five Chippewas reached double figures for the first time this year.
• THE SERIES
• Northern Illinois leads its series, 52-46, but the Chippewas have won 11 of the last 14 meetings. Northern Illinois won the first meeting this season, 74-61. Central Michigan is 5-5 on the road at the Convocation Center since its opening in 2002.
• Huskies head coach Mark Montgomery was an assistant on the CMU bench from 1998 to 2001. NIU assistant coach Jon Borovich was a CMU letterwinner during Montgomery's time as a Chippewa.
