DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 2, when it hosts Lindenwood at the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff against the Lions is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+ as well as WDKB 94-9 FM. Tickets for Tuesday's contest are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.

NIU (3-4) has been off for a week since its contest scheduled for Saturday (Nov. 29) against Bellarmine was cancelled. Last time out, the Huskies fell on the road at Austin Peay. Gianni Cobb (Chicago, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) came off the bench to score 12 points to lead the Huskies against the Governors. Cobb ranks sixth in the Mid-American Conference with a 3.11 assist/turnover ratio and is tied for fifth averaging 4.0 assists per game.

Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) added 10 points against Austin Peay. Valentine is averaging 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game over the last four contests. For the year, Valentine also ranks 11th in the MAC in free throw percentage (84 percent) and tied for ninth in steals (1.57 per game).

Gustav Winther (Roskilde, Denmark) went 4-of-5 from the field against Austin Peay and currently leads the MAC in field goal percentage, shooting 80.6 percent (25-of-31).

The Lions come to DeKalb with a 3-4 overall record after topping Kansas City, 80-67, last time out (Nov. 24). Lindenwood has five players scoring in double figures, led by Jadis Jones at 16.7 points per game. Lindenwood was picked tied for fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll, along with Morehead State. 

This is the first all-time meeting between NIU and Lindenwood. 

Following Tuesday's game, NIU heads back on the road for its next two, beginning with a trip to Peoria to meet Bradley on Saturday, Dec. 6.