• Central Michigan plays host to rival Western Michigan on Saturday (1 p.m.) in a Mid-American Conference game at McGuirk Arena.
• It is CMU's annual Play4Kay game, which is part of the grassroots fundraising initiative of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, named for former North Carolina State coach Kay Yow.
• The Chippewas (17-6, 9-2) are riding a three-game win streak. Their 109-94 win on Wednesday at Northern Illinois moved them into a tie for second-place with the Huskies in the MAC West. They trail first-place Ball State by one-half game.
• Western Michigan (14-8, 5-6) and had lost it last four games.