GAME NOTES: Riding their first winning streak of the season, the Toledo Rockets invade the Convocation Center today, as they take on the Northern Illinois Huskies in Mid-American Conference play. The Rockets have won each of their last two games and that represents their first winning streak of the season. The team was last in action a week ago, when it opened MAC play with a 58-54 triumph over Ball State. The win improved Toledo to 4-9 overall, but it now must take to the road, where it has gone 0-8 thus far. As for NIU, it has been out of action since suffering an 86-69 setback in its MAC opener at Western Michigan on January 5th. It was the fourth loss in the past five games by the Huskies, who dropped to 3-10 overall. The team though, now returns back home, where it is in search of its fourth straight win. In terms of the all- time series, Toledo holds a 37-16 lead over NIU and it has won eight of the last nine encounters, including four in a row at the Huskies' Convocation Center.

The Rockets haven't had much success at the offensive end of the court this season, as they are scoring a mere 58.5 ppg and shooting a sub par 29.9 percent from long range. The team has also struggled on the boards, where it is being outrebounded by 8.1 rpg. Tyrone Kent however, has been a bright spot for Toledo, as he leads the squad in scoring (18.3 ppg), as well as assists (3.4 apg). Jonathan Amos ranks second with 11.8 ppg and he has been a big factor on defense, recording a team-high 38 steals. In the squad's last game, Jerrah Young played the role of hero for the Rockets, recording a double- double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a four-point win over Ball State. Young, who is averaging 9.2 ppg and a team-high 6.9 rpg on the season, also registered four steals. Kent logged 12 points for the Rockets, who won the game despite shooting just 37.5 percent from the floor.

The Huskies' struggles this season have come on defense, as they are allowing opposing teams to score a 79.1 ppg and shoot 46.9 percent from the floor and 41.5 percent from long range. Offensively, NIU is turning in just 66.0 ppg, with no active players averaging in double figures. Ryan Paradise led the team in scoring (10.7 ppg) in his six games, but Friday he announced his retirement due to the pain from several injuries he sustained throughout his career. With Paradise gone for certain, Jarvis Nichols now assumes the role as the team's top scorer with an average of 9.9 ppg. In the club's prior contest, NIU turned the ball over 19 times and that resulted in 30 points for Western Michigan in an 86-69 loss. The team was also outscored at the foul line, 25-10, in the setback. Michael Patton guided the Huskies in defeat with 20 points, while Nichols had 17 points and six boards off the bench.

Neither team has had much success this season, but this is a good opportunity for one club to snare a league win. NIU has the edge playing at home and it should be able to hold off a Toledo club that has yet to win on the road.