CHICAGO (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to reverse early-season struggles will meet Friday when the Northern Illinois Huskies face the Loyola Chicago Ramblers at Joseph Gentile Center.

Northern Illinois (2-3) enters the non-conference matchup after a 70-57 road loss to Northern Iowa on Tuesday. Dylan Ducommun led the Huskies with 12 points and seven assists in the defeat. The Huskies’ two wins have come in dominant fashion at home against Benedictine (117-62) and Louisiana-Monroe (102-82), but they are 0-3 on the road, including losses to Wisconsin and Grand Canyon.

Loyola Chicago (1-4) looks to snap a three-game losing streak, most recently falling 80-67 to Colorado State at home on Sunday. Justin Moore paced the Ramblers with 13 points and three assists in that contest. Their lone victory was a narrow 91-88 home win over Cleveland State to open the season.

Both teams have faced defensive challenges, with each allowing an average of over 80 points per game in their losses. The matchup will feature Northern Illinois’ Ducommun, who facilitates the offense, against a Loyola Chicago frontcourt anchored by Miles Rubin, who recorded three blocks against Colorado State.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST on Friday, Nov. 21. Northern Illinois travels to Austin Peay next Tuesday, while Loyola Chicago faces Northern Iowa in a neutral-site game in Palm Desert, California, the same day.