CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago is set to play Northern Illinois Friday night at 7 p.m. in Gentile Arena. The Ramblers look to win their first since the opener, while the Huskies won their last and are building momentum. This will mark the first meeting between Loyola and NIU in the Drew Valentine era. The teams haven't met since 2013-14.

Friday's game can be watched on Marquee Sports Network with Jordan Bernfield (PXP) and Nick DiNardi (Analyst). The game can also be listened to Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).

RAMBLINGS
• Loyola has dropped its last four games, entering Friday's contest at 1-4 and looking to break a skid before heading out west to Palm Springs.
• The Ramblers fell to Wichita State last week on the road and returned home to Colorado State, falling short of a comeback.
• Deywilk Tavarez tied his season-high and led Loyola at Wichita State, scoring 16 points. He finished 5-9 from three-point range.
• Chuck Love III (13), Miles Rubin (12), and Justin Moore (10) added double-digit scoring efforts.
• At home against Colorado State, Moore (13) and Love III (10) were the only two Ramblers to reach double-figures. Moore is on a four-game streak and Love III is on a three-game streak of reaching at least 10 or more points.
• Rubin broke the all-time block record vs. Colorado State. He needed three and got three to surpass Andre Moore (1984-87). Rubin and 177 career blocks and counting to set the new mark. He's currently on a 22-game streak with at least one block recorded.
• Rubin is averaging 3.2 blocks per game, which ranks second in the A-10 and sixth in the country. His 16 total blocks on the year leads the league and ranks fifth in the NCAA.
• The junior center also lands in the nation's top-15 with a 13.6 block percentage via KenPom.
• Moore leads the Ramblers in both scoring and assists. He's averaging 13.2 points per game, ranking 10th in the A-10.
• Moore's 5.2 apg falls second on the A-10 individual leaderboards. He's totaled 26 already this season, ranking 52nd in the country.
• Head coach Drew Valentine is in his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled a 84-55 overall record as head coach.

SCOUTING NIU
NIU enters the week at 2-3 after picking up a 117-62 win over Benedictine last week. The Huskies have losses to Wisconsin, Grand Canyon, and Northern Iowa with their only other win this year coming against Louisiana Monroe in the season opener. The Huskies are hot from three-point range, shooting 41.7 percent from the arc this season. They rank 17th in the country and third in the MAC.

Four NIU players are averaging at least 10 points per game. Dylan Cucommun made his season debut last week and leads the team with a 12.0 ppg average. He also added seven assists. Daemar Kelly is scoring 11.2 ppg, Jao Ituka 11.0 ppg, and Makhai Valentine 10.8 ppg. Ituka has a team-leading 11 threes made, shooting 47.7 percent from deep.

Rashon Burno is in his fifth season leading NIU. He holds a 41-88 record with the Huskies.

SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series is tied at 17-17. The Huskies won the last meeting in December of 2013, 55-49.