DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team returns to action on Monday afternoon, Dec. 13, when it travels to Chicago State. Game time against the Cougars is scheduled for 12 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+.

Following a nine-day break for finals, the Huskies resume their series with Chicago State, as the two teams have met in each of the past five seasons. The contest will be just the second in the State of Illinois for NIU this season, as the Huskies defeated Eastern Illinois at home, 55-45, in their only in-state game in the first eight (Dec. 1). 

Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) is averaging 16.0 points per game over the last three contests, which includes a 24-point performance in that matchup against Eastern Illinois. Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich./Novi) is shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range over the last five games for the Huskies. 

NIU is holding its opponents to just 29.6 percent shooting from three-point range, second-best in the Mid-American Conference and 67th nationally. The Huskies also rank second in the MAC in blocks (4.3 per game) and turnovers forced (15.0 per contest). 

The Cougars bring a 3-6 overall record into Monday's contest after dropping an 80-71 decision at home on Saturday (Dec.11) to Illinois State. The setback was Chicago State's first at home as the Cougars are 3-1 at the Jones Convocation Center. Two players are scoring in double figures for Chicago State, led by 15.6 points per game from Brandon Betson. Jahsean Corbett adds 11.4 points, and a team-best 7.8 rebounds, per contest.

Monday's contest is the first of four in-state games for the Huskies as NIU travels to UIC on Sunday, Dec. 19 before returning home to host Indiana State (Dec. 22) and Ball State (Dec. 28) in the conference opener. 

Huskie Flex Plans are now available for the 2021-22 basketball season. Purchase vouchers for $6 each and use them throughout the season to attend Huskie men's and women's basketball home games. Simply redeem vouchers for tickets at the box office prior to the game. Tickets can be purchased online at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).