DEKALB, Ill. -- In a quick turnaround from Saturday's victory over App State in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge, the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will be back in action on Monday night, Nov. 13, when the Huskies host Illinois Tech at the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Scarlet Hawks is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Monday's contest is Youth Sports Night, coaches are invited to bring their teams to the game and can receive tickets at the door for a special group rate of $6. This will be the final chance for fans to catch the Huskies at home until December as NIU will play its next four games on the road following Monday's game.
NIU brings a 1-1 record into the Illinois Tech contest after topping App State, 91-78, on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 11).
David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) scored a game-high 27 points against the Mountaineers.
Zarique Nutter (Newark, N.J./Clarendon College) added 19 points,
Philmon Gebrewhit (Boston, Mass./DePaul) tied his career high with 18 points while
Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Fraschels, Switzerland/Ursping) netted a career-best for the second game in a row, scoring 11 points against App State.
The Huskies led for 35 minutes against App State, who is picked to finish second in the Sun Belt, as NIU overcame an early 8-2 burst from the Mountaineers to go on a 20-5 run and never looked back.
NIU went 24-of-29 (82.8 percent) from the free-throw line against App State and is shooting 77.8 percent (35-of-45) early on this season.
Illinois Tech split its first two games to begin the season. Garrison Carter is the leading returning scorer for the Scarlet Hawks, having averaged 13.9 points per game a season ago, Caden Gigstad averaged 11.8 points per game last year. Illinois Tech posted an 11-15 mark a season ago, including a 9-8 record in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.
The Huskies and Scarlet Hawks have met twice previously, both NIU victories. NIU beat Illinois Tech, 93-48, in the first meeting on Dec. 17, 1997, and 73-66 on Nov. 17, 2018, in the most recent meeting.
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.
Following Monday's game, NIU will begin its four-game road trip on Friday, Nov. 17, against Georgia State in the Capitol Challenge in Atlanta.
