The Kent State Golden Flashes (10-3, 1-0 MAC) will try to build on an eight-game home win streak when they square off against the Northern Illinois Huskies (5-8, 1-1 MAC) on January 3, 2026 at Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
Saturday's matchup between the Golden Flashes and the Huskies features the Golden Flashes as huge 16.5-point favorites. The matchup's point total is 158.5.
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Kent State vs. Northern Illinois Odds and Game Info
- Game day: Saturday, January 3, 2026
- Game time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN+
- Location: Kent, Ohio
- Arena: Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center
- Live stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
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Kent State vs. Northern Illinois Odds and Prediction
- Spread favorite: Kent State (-16.5)
- Moneyline: Kent State (-2000), Northern Illinois (+1022)
- Total: 158.5 points
Pick ATS:Northern Illinois (+16.5)
- Pick OU: Over (158.5)
- Prediction: Kent State 87, Northern Illinois 74
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Kent State vs. Northern Illinois Comparison
| Kent State Rank | Kent State Stat | Northern Illinois Stat | Northern Illinois Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | 91.7 | Points Scored | 76.4 | 212th |
| 332nd | 81.3 | Points Allowed | 78.5 | 305th |
| 20th | 18.8 | Assists | 13.8 | 221st |
| 350th | 14.3 | Turnovers | 14.0 | 342nd |
| 58th | 48.6% | Field Goal % | 43.4% | 285th |
| 171st | 43.2% | Field Goal % Allowed | 48.5% | 346th |
Kent State Key Players
- The Golden Flashes leader in points and rebounds is Delrecco Gillespie, who scores 18.5 points and pulls down 11.9 rebounds per game.
- Cian Medley is Kent State's best passer, dispensing 6.5 assists per game while scoring 10.4 PPG.
- Morgan Safford leads the Golden Flashes in three-point shooting, making an average of 2.6 shots per game from beyond the arc.
- Medley is Kent State's leader in steals, averaging 1.8 steals per game, while Gillespie leads them in blocks with 1.9 per contest.
Northern Illinois Key Players
- Makhai Valentine records 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Huskies, enough to be the leading scorer and rebounder on the team.
- Gianni Cobb notches more assists than any other Northern Illinois player with 3.9 per game. Cobb also averages 7.2 points and grabs 2.5 rebounds per game.
- Valentine is the top scorer from the three-point line for the Huskies, hitting 1.9 threes per game.
- Northern Illinois' leader in steals is Cobb with 1.5 per game, and its leader in blocks is Gustav Winther with 0.5 per game.
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