Friday, January 30, 2004
NIU faces 2nd place Toledo
Men’s hoops looks to rebound off Buffalo loss with Sat. game
Article by:
Mark Pickrel - Sports Reporter
• mpickrel@northernstar.info
After losing its first home game of the season, the NIU men’s
basketball team will try to rebound against Toledo at 5:05 p.m. Saturday
at the Convocation Center.
Toledo (14-4 overall, 8-2 MAC) is coming off a 66-63
win Wednesday night against Ball State. NIU (7-11, 2-6) last played
on Sunday in an 85-73 loss to Buffalo.
The Rockets were picked fifth out of seven teams in
the preseason MAC poll. However, Toledo is tied for the most overall
wins in the MAC and has only one more conference loss than West division-leading
Western Michigan.
Keith Triplett is the Rockets’ leading scorer and
is second in the MAC at 19.4 points per game. The lone senior starter
on the team, Triplett ranks in the top 10 in the MAC in six statistical
categories.
“Triplett is just plain great,” NIU coach
Rob Judson said. “It’s a real positive that he’s played
four years. He’s an all-conference returnee.”
Last year’s MAC Freshman of the Year Sammy Villegas,
who played point guard last season and part of this season, has been
moved to off guard. Villegas is scoring 13.9 ppg.
The Rockets’ three other starters are all freshmen,
led by Justin Ingram who averages 10.4 ppg.
NIU has won three straight games in the series with
Toledo. Since Judson’s arrival, the Huskies are 3-1 overall against
Toledo and 2-0 at home.
Four of the last five games against the Rockets in DeKalb
have been decided by four points or less.
“Every game from this point on is a big game,”
NIU guard Perry Smith said. “We just want to get better for when
the MAC tournament comes around.”
Prior to the game, at 1:30 p.m., the fourth annual NIU
men’s basketball alumni game will be at the arena.
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