DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team hosts App State on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 11) in its home opener as part of the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge. Tipoff between the Huskies and Mountaineers is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center.
In honor of Veterans Day, veterans and active-duty military personnel can receive free tickets to Saturday's game at the Convocation Center Box Office and their guests can purchase additional tickets for just $6.
Saturday's matchup, which will be available on ESPN+, is one of 12 games this week in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge. Each MAC school is hosting a Sun Belt foe this weekend, and in February, the MAC will go on the road to face the Sun Belt. Matchups for those contests, which will be announced in January, will be based on real-time NET rankings.
NIU opened the season on the road Monday night (Nov. 6) at fifth-ranked Marquette, falling to the Golden Eagles, 92-70.
David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) scored a team-high 14 points while
Philmon Gebrewhit (Boston, Mass./DePaul) added 11.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Fraschels, Switzerland/Ursping) came up just shy of a double-double as he scored a career-best nine points with a career-high 11 rebounds.
The Mountaineers opened the season with an 87-49 victory over Oakland City on Tuesday night (Nov. 7). Tre'Von Spillers scored a team-high 16 points to lead the way. App State was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt this season in the league's preseason poll, Donovan Gregory was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team while CJ Huntley was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team.
Saturday's matchup will be the first all-time meeting between NIU and App State.
Following Saturday's contest, NIU will be back home on Monday night, Nov. 13, when they host Illinois Tech at 7 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center.
Tickets for all Huskie basketball games are on sale now, including season tickets, which start at just $80 for general admission season tickets in sections 115-118 (lower bowl baseline) with reserved lower bowl sideline season tickets available for just $120. NIU faculty and staff, NIU Alumni Association and Varsity Club members, and senior citizens can purchase men's basketball season tickets for $105.
The new "Run it Back with the Pack" plan is also on sale, "Run it Back with the Pack" tickets are $20 for a men's basketball general admission ticket. For more information on season tickets, including courtside and premium seating opportunities, call 815-753-PACK (7225).
