DEKALB, Ill. – After opening the season with six games away from home, the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will host Eastern Illinois on Wednesday, Dec. 1, in the home opener at the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN3. 

Tickets for Wednesday's game can be purchased online at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). NIU students are admitted to basketball games free of charge with a student ID, the first 150 students in attendance at Wednesday's game will receive free pizza. 

NIU (1-5) dropped an 80-66 decision last time out at Marquette (Nov. 27), as Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) scored a team-high 17 points. Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook, Ill./Iowa Western CC) scored 12 points and tied a career-high with seven assists. Thornton is averaging 13.5 points per game over the last two games, shooting 61.1 percent from the field. 

The Panthers come to DeKalb with a 1-6 overall record after falling to Evansville on Sunday (Nov. 28), 70-54. NIU will be the second Mid-American Conference opponent for Eastern Illinois as the Panthers dropped a narrow, 62-61 decision to Central Michigan on Nov. 15. Sammy Friday IV leads Eastern Illinois in scoring at 11.0 points per game. Kashawn Charles is also scoring in double figures at 10.3 points per game.

Wednesday's matchup will be the 91st all-time between NIU and Eastern Illinois, with both teams winning 45 of the first 90. The Panthers have won each of the last four meetings between the two schools, including a 59-55 victory in Charleston in the last meeting on Dec. 13, 2014.

The Dec. 1 home opener is the latest since the 1992-93 season, when NIU opened at home against Illinois Wesleyan on Dec. 1. NIU is one of just 13 schools in Division I that is yet to host a home game this season. 

Masks are required at all times for those in attendance at the NIU Convocation Center for men's and women's basketball games unless eating or drinking. A clear bag policy has been instituted for both Huskie Stadium and the NIU Convocation Center. No large bags or purses will be permitted for NIU football, volleyball or men's and women's basketball games. Approved bags include one clear plastic 12"x12"x6" stadium bag or a one-gallon clear plastic storage bag or one clutch purse size 4.5"x6.5" or smaller.

Following Wednesday's game, NIU will return to the road for its next three, beginning on Saturday, Dec. 4 with a trip to Dayton.