DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will play its first road game of the season on Friday, Nov. 7, when the Huskies face 24th-ranked Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison. Tipoff against the Badgers is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the contest will be available on Big Ten Network as well as WDKB 94-9 FM.

NIU (1-0) opened the season with a 102-82 victory over ULM on Monday (Nov. 3) at home as part of the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge. Playing in his first collegiate game, Gustav Winther recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Warhawks. The last time a Huskie freshman had a double-double in his collegiate debut was on Nov. 19, 1997, when Steve Determan had 11 points and 10 rebounds against Sacramento State.

Gianni Cobb also had a double-double against ULM with 14 points and 10 assists with no turnovers. Cobb's 10-assist game is just the 14th double-figure assist game for a Huskie since 1988-89, none of the other 13 included zero turnovers. 

Jao Ituka had a team-high 19 points in the season opening victory as NIU shot 65.6 percent (21-of-32) from the field in the second half, including 50 percent (7-of-14) from three. 

Wisconsin (1-0) opened the season with a 96-64 win over Campbell. John Blackwell led the Badgers with 31 points while Nick Boyd added 21. Blackwell was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team after averaging 15.8 points per game a season ago, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition. 

Despite being separated by just 100 miles, NIU and Wisconsin will meet for the first time since 2002. The Badgers have won each of the last two meetings in Madison after the Huskies claimed a 55-51 win on Dec. 14, 1999, in DeKalb. Wisconsin will represent the 39th AP Top 25 ranked opponent for NIU in program history, and the first since the Huskies visited No. 5 Marquette on Nov. 6, 2023.  

NIU's last victory over a current member of the Big Ten came in head coach Rashon Burno's debut as the Huskies topped Washington, 71-64, in Seattle on Nov. 9, 2021, behind 28 points from Trendon Hankerson. 

Following Friday's game, NIU will be back on the road on Monday, Nov. 10, when the Huskies travel to Phoenix, Ariz., to face Grand Canyon. NIU returns home on Thursday, Nov. 13, against Benedictine. 

Season tickets for the 2025-26 Huskie men's basketball campaign are on sale now at NIUHuskies.com. Reserved seats are available for $120 with general admission tickets available for just $80, courtside seats and Nelson Club access are also available. For more information, contact the NIU Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) weekdays between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or via email at huskiestickets@niu.edu.