Dec. 30, 2010

OREM, Utah -- Fresh off of a high-scoring win on Tuesday, Utah Valley University travels to Northern Illinois for a New Year's Eve contest at 12 p.m. MT/1 p.m. CT against the NIU Huskies of the Mid-American Conference.

The Wolverines enter at 6-7 after Tuesday's 95-92 win over Florida International while NIU, which boasts the fourth-highest scorer in the nation, is 3-7 following a loss at Big 12 and No. 10 Missouri on Monday.

"Coach (Ricardo) Patton has his team playing extremely hard. They've been competitive throughout the preseason and have had some near-miss major upsets," UVU Coach Dick Hunsaker said. "(Xavier) Silas is one the top five scorers the country. He scores in a variety of ways and will certainly pose as a match up challenge for us.

It will be the first time that Utah Valley will face a team from the MAC. Hunsaker spent four seasons as a head coach in the MAC with Ball State, although Northern Illinois was not part of the conference during his tenure.

In Tuesday's shootout win over FIU, several players had big statisical nights including Holton Hunsaker, who set new career highs with 25 points and seven assists.

UVU leading scorer Isiah Williams matched his career-high by scoring 26 points for the second straight game and Jordan Swabrick had a season-high 23 including 20 in the first half.

Ben Aird pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds and Geddes Robinson recorded his second double-double in the last three games with 10 points and 11 boards.

Northern Illinois is getting 24.4 points per game from guard Xavier Silas, which ranks fourth in the country. Silas is a 91 percent free-throw shooter, hitting 77-of-85 attempts. The Huskies have lost three straight -- all on the road -- but those losses have come at No. 25 Temple, Southern Illinois and 10th-ranked Missouri.

The Wolverines host Haskell University next Tuesday in the UCCU Center before beginning Great West Conference play on Jan. 8 at Chicago State.