DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will play the first of two games in three days on Wednesday, Nov. 27, as the Huskies visit Valparaiso. Game time against the Beacons is slated for 3 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+, as well as WDKB 94-9 FM in DeKalb. 

NIU and Valparaiso are meeting for the first time since 2012, when the two teams squared off in a 7 a.m. tip as part of the ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon. The Beacons won that meeting, 69-46, in Valparaiso (Nov. 13, 2012). NIU leads the all-time series against Valparaiso ,14-11, and has won five of its 12 trips to Valparaiso. 

Last time out at DePaul, Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) led the way with 16 points. Over the last five games, Jones is averaging 16.0 points per game, shooting 50 percent (30-of-60) from the floor.

Tsvet Sotirov (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) had a career-best 11 points off the bench at DePaul while Dominic Gooden (Cleveland, Ohio/Walter L. Sickles) added a career-high 10 points in a reserve role.

NIU committed a season-low six turnovers against DePaul and had a turnover percentage of just 8.2 percent, the sixth lowest for the Huskies during the KenPom era (since 1996-97).

The Beacons come into Wednesday's contest with a 3-2 record following an 81-53 win over Eastern Illinois on Sunday (Nov. 27). Four players are scoring in double figures for Valparaiso, led by Devon Ellis at 12.8 points per game. Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro adds 11.4 points per game, Cooper Schwieger is scoring 11.2 points per contest and Tyler Schmidt is chipping in 10.2 points per game. As a team, Valparaiso is shooting 85.1 percent from the free-throw line.

Following Wednesday's game, the Huskies will remain on the road as they visit Eastern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 29, in Charleston. Game time against the Panthers is slated for 2 p.m.