DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team hits the road for the first time this season on Saturday, December 5, as the Huskies visit Pittsburgh. Game time against the Panthers is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be available via ACC Network Extra. 

Saturday's matchup in the Steel City will be just the second all-time meeting between NIU and Pittsburgh. The two schools met last season at the Petersen Events Center (Dec. 16, 2019) when the Panthers earned a narrow, 59-50, victory over the Huskies. 

Last time out against SIU Edwardsville, sophomore Tyler Cochran (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) tied a career-high with 15 points to lead the Huskies. Cochran has scored in double figures in both games this season and is averaging a team-high 14.0 points per game. Cochran made his first start of the season against the Cougars and was joined in the starting lineup by junior Zool Kueth (Gallatin, Tenn./Pratt CC), who was making the first start of his NIU career. 

Junior Darius Beane (Carbondale, Ill./Southern Illinois) has joined Cochran in scoring in double figures in both games this season for NIU; Beane is averaging 13.0 points per contest. 

In the first two games of the season, NIU's opponent have just six total second chance points, to 18 for the Huskies. NIU has a +5.5 rebounding margin with five players averaging at least four rebounds per game. 

Pittsburgh comes into Saturday's contest with a 1-1 overall record, having dropped its opener to St. Francis (Pa.) before bouncing back with a victory over Drexel. Three players are scoring in double figures for the Panthers, led by Au'Diese Toney at 20.0 points per contest. Xavier Johnson adds 18.0 points per game while Justin Champagnie is averaging 15.5 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds per contest.

Following Saturday's first road game of the season, the Huskies will return home on Tuesday, December 8, as they host Ball State in the first conference game of the season. Tipoff against the Cardinals is set for 6 p.m.