The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos play the Northern Illinois Huskies in the first round of the MAC tournament at Mandalay Bay Event Center. The game begins at 5:30 pm ET on Monday, Mar. 28 and can be seen on CCS.
The Huskies are hoping for a better outcome after their 79-62 loss to Ohio in the 2. Marshawn Wilson was the game’s leading scorer, finishing with 22. The Gauchos, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after the 88-76 loss to Hawaii in the 2. Michael Bryson scored 22 points and recorded 10 rebounds earning his fifth double-double of the season.
Baskets could be hard to come by as Northern Illinois ranks fourth in the nation, allowing just 96.8 points per 100 possessions, while UC Santa Barbara is 12th (99.3). Also, the Gauchos commit the 15th-fewest errors in the nation (TO% of 18.4%), while the disruptive defense of the Huskies causes the second-most (opponents’ TO% of 20.8%).
The Huskies enter the game with records of 21-12 Straight Up (SU) and 17-11 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last 10 games, they have had success covering the spread (8-2). The Northern Illinois defense has been very good, only giving up 67.1 points per game. Opposing offenses have been stifled by the Huskies, allowing a field goal percentage of only .402.
As for their opponent, UC Santa Barbara has a SU record of 18-13 and an ATS record of 18-11. Most recently, UC Santa Barbara is 7-3 ATS over the last 10 games. UC Santa Barbara’s defense is one of the top in the nation, with opponents shooting only .401 from the field.
This game will be the first meeting for Northern Illinois and UC Santa Barbara in recent seasons.
Predictions: SU Winner – NIU, ATS Winner – NIU
Notes
“Northern Illinois is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games “.
Northern Illinois averages 72.7 points per game, placing the team just 146th in the nation. UC Santa Barbara ranks 58th in points allowed, giving up 67.5 points per game.
Northern Illinois scores just 77.6 points per home game (ranked 116th). UC Santa Barbara ranks 43rd in points allowed on the road, giving up 69.6 points.
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos have a defensive rating of 99.3 (ranked 12th), while the Northern Illinois Huskies have an offensive rating of 105.8 (ranked 179th).
The Northern Illinois Huskies average 68.7 possessions and 1.058 points per possession in games this season. The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos average fewer possessions with 68.2, as well as fewer points per possession with 1.049.
The Northern Illinois Huskies average an effective field goal percentage of 49.0% this season. The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos have an underachieving record of 4-8 when opponents have an eFG% of 49.0% or greater.
UC Santa Barbara ranks 57th in assists, recording 15.3 per game. Northern Illinois performs worse at 115th with 14.2 assists per game.
Northern Illinois ranks 45th in rebounds per game with 39.2 and UC Santa Barbara ranks 96th with 37.6 rebounds per game.
UC Santa Barbara ranks 178th in offensive rebounds, while Northern Illinois ranks at 60th in defensive rebounds.
Though UC Santa Barbara is one of the best in the country in forcing turnovers with opponents averaging a TO% of 18.4% (ranked 10th), Northern Illinois has a winning 10-6 record SU when it has a TO% of 18.4% or greater.
