DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team opens the 2019-20 regular season on Saturday afternoon, November 9, as the Huskies welcome Northern Iowa to the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Panthers is slated for 3 p.m.
Saturday's contest is All-Area Educator and NIU Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. Local educators and school staff, including NIU faculty and staff, can receive a free ticket by showing a valid ID at the Convocation Center Box Office.
NIU is coming off an 85-50 exhibition victory over Roosevelt on Tuesday night (Nov. 5). All 11 Huskies that played scored in the contest, with senior
Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) leading the way with 19 points in 14 minutes. Junior
Zaire Mateen (Queens, N.Y./Laramie County Community College) added 10 points while junior
Chris Johnson (Chicago, Ill./South Suburban College) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
German begins the season looking to become the first 2,000-point scorer in NIU history. The senior from Gary, Ind., enters the 2019-20 campaign with 1,569 career points, just 427 behind T.J. Lux (1995-2000; 1,996 points) for the all-time Huskie record. German has scored over 600 points in each of the last two seasons.
Saturday's matchup with Northern Iowa begins a grueling stretch of eight games in 17 days to begin the regular season for the Huskies, concluding with a Nov. 25 home game against Oakland. NIU's eight games in the month of November is tied for the most in program history; the Huskies also played eight games in November during the 2016-17 season.
The Panthers come to DeKalb with a 1-0 record after opening the season with a 58-53 victory over Old Dominion on Tuesday night (Nov. 5) at home in Cedar Falls. AJ Green and Spencer Haldeman each scored 12 points to pace the Panthers while Austin Phyfe added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Northern Iowa was picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll while Green was named to the Preseason First Team All-MVC after averaging 15.0 points per game a season ago.
Saturday's contest is the first meeting between the Huskies and Panthers since Nov. 28, 2009, when Northern Iowa defeated NIU, 52-45, in Cedar Falls. Northern Iowa leads the all-time series, 13-8, but NIU has a 5-3 advantage all-time in games played in DeKalb.
Season tickets for NIU men's basketball are on sale now, online at NIUHuskies.com and by calling 815-753-PACK (7225). Fans can see all 16 Huskie men's basketball home games this season from a reserved, lower bowl sideline seat for just $120, with a "Huskie Land" season ticket in sections 115-118 (lower bowl baseline) available for just $80. NIU faculty and staff, NIU Alumni Association or Varsity Club members and senior citizens can purchase men's basketball season tickets for $105.
Flex pass, group and single game tickets are also available now, for more information visit NIUHuskies.com/tickets or call 815-753-PACK (7225).
