DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will be back home for the first time in over a month as the Huskies host UAlbany on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m. in the NIU Convocation Center. Tuesday's contest is Pup Club Christmas Day, with a pregame kids zone with Santa. Fans can receive a free kids ticket (under 13) with the purchase of each adult ticket at the box office on the day of the game.

NIU concluded an eight-game trip away from home on Saturday (Dec. 17) with a setback at VCU. Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) scored a team-high 16 points against the Rams and currently ranks sixth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring at 18.0 points per game. Williams ranks in the top-25 in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and free throw percentage and is one of just two players in the conference, along with Eastern Michigan's Emoni Bates, to rank in the top-25 in all three of those categories as well as in the top-25 in rebounding. 

Zarique Nutter (Newark, N.J./Clarendon College) scored 11 points at VCU, his seventh game scoring in double figures this season. Nutter also leads the Huskies in rebounding, pulling down 5.3 boards per game, which ranks 13th in the MAC. 

UAlbany is playing its second game in three days in Chicagoland as the Great Danes fell at Loyola Chicago, 68-56, on Sunday (Dec. 18). Two players score in double figures for UAlbany, led by 13.6 points per game from Gerald Drumgoole Jr. Jonathan Beagle adds 11.2 points, and a team high 7.2 rebounds, per contest. The matchup between the Huskies and Great Danes will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. 

Following Tuesday's contest, the Huskies will have one more pre-Christmas game as they travel to Indiana State on Thursday, Nov. 22. 

The Sycamore have a 9-3 record after falling at Duquesne, 92-86, last time out (Dec. 17). Three players score in double figures for Indiana State, led by Courvoisier McCauley at 17.2 points per game. Cameron Henry adds 12.2 points per contest and Cooper Neese is averaging 10.7 points per game. NIU will be the third MAC foe for Indiana State this season as they defeated Ball State, 83-71, and Miami, 88-61. 

Thursday's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+ as well as 94-9 WDKB and The Varsity Network app.