With the GLIAC race tightening up, the games start to mean even more for teams like the Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team as the second half of the conference season begins tonight at Vandement Arena in Marquette.

Stevie Mitchell scored 10 of his career-high 22 points during a key five-minute stretch in the second half as No. 9 Marquette overcame Kam Jones’ foul trouble to rally past Butler 78-69

Analyzing Tuesday’s Marquette at Butler odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team took a hit to its pride with a pair of losses on the road over the extended weekend, including a humbling 79-49 setback at No. 14 Lake Superior State on Saturday afternoon.

Sure, the win at Kansas is really the only marquee victory Houston has so far this season, but a 13-game winning streak with 11 double-digit wins over that stretch earns Kelvin Sampson's team a place in the top tier of the sport.

No. 25 UConn, Saturday. No. 10 Purdue (16-5) did not play. Next: vs. Indiana, Friday. No. 11 Kansas (15-5) did not play. Next: at Baylor, Saturday. No. 12 Kentucky (15-5) did not play. Next: vs. Arkansas,

No. 7 Michigan St. (18-2) at Southern Cal (12-8), 4:30 p.m. No. 9 Marquette (18-3) vs. No. 25 UConn (15-6), 8 p.m. No. 13 Texas A&M (16-5) at South Carolina (10-11), 8:30 p.m.

Auburn has all but sewn up its first one-seed since 1998-99 with an incredible 12-1 record against Quad 1 opponents. Houston led all teams with 13 Quad 1 wins in the regular season last season, and the Tigers have a chance to smash that mark with eight more Quad 1 matchups over their final 11 games of the regular season.

It’s a well-deserved midweek bye for the No. 20 Missouri Tigers, who will enter the month of February at 16-4 (5-2 SEC), with just a couple of wins away from clinching an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.

DETROIT (AP) — Orlando Lovejoy’s 19 points helped Detroit Mercy defeat Northern Kentucky 68-57 on Thursday night.

Plus, North Carolina’s path to the NCAA tournament narrows with the first of two rivalry games against Duke looming on Saturday.