DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team opens the 2018-19 campaign on Tuesday night, November 6, as the Huskies host Rockford University. Tip-off against the Regents is slated for 7 p.m., at the NIU Convocation Center. 

Tuesday's Election Night contest is the "Battle for the 16th District" as fans can show their "I Voted" sticker at the NIU Convocation Center box office to purchase $5 discounted tickets. 

NIU will look to continue its recent success in season openers as the Huskies have won on opening night in four consecutive seasons. Last year, NIU topped Green Bay, 85-65, in its season opener (Nov. 14, 2017) and Levi Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) led the way with 28 points while Lacey James (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rider) added a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. 

Bradley's big night against the Phoenix was a sign of things to come for the Milwaukee, Wis., native as he finished last season averaging 14.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Bradley shot 82.9 percent from the free-throw line during his junior campaign, the sixth-best mark in the Mid-American Conference, and begins his senior season just 26 points shy of 1,000 for his career. 

Fellow Milwaukee native Jaylen Key (Milwaukee, Wis./Homestead) returns to the lineup for the Huskies on Tuesday after missing the 2017-18 season due to injury. As a sophomore two seasons ago, Key averaged 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and ranked 14th in the MAC shooting 48.8 percent from the floor. 

Like the Huskies, Rockford will also be taking the court for the first time this season on Tuesday night. The Regents posted an 11-14 record a season ago and Tony Diemer is their leading returning scorer; Diemer averaged 18.0 points per game a season ago, shooting 47.2 percent from three-point range, and earned first team all-conference recognition in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. 

Tuesday's meeting will be the fourth all-time between the Huskies and Regents, with NIU holding a 3-0 advantage. Last season, the Huskies defeated the Regents, 105-53 (Nov. 26, 2017), five players scored in double figures for NIU, led by 16 points from Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter). Anastasios Demogerontas (Orland Park, Ill./Moraine Valley Community College) added 15 points in the victory. Taylor Krocker paced Rockford with 13 points and seven rebounds. 

Following Tuesday's game, the Huskies will be back in action on Friday night, November 9, when they host defending Horizon League champion Northern Kentucky, game time on Friday night is scheduled for 6 p.m.