CLEVELAND – The 18-game league schedule for the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team was released on Thursday (Aug. 21) by the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies will open league play at home on Saturday, Dec. 20 against Central Michigan. 

After the Holiday break, NIU will be home again as Buffalo visits the NIU Convocation Center on Tuesday, Dec. 30 to close the calendar year. 

Following a trip to Kent State to start 2026 (Jan. 3), NIU will return home to host Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 6. 

The Huskies will be on the road for three of the next four, beginning with a trip to Eastern Michigan (Jan. 13). League newcomer UMass then visits DeKalb on Saturday, Jan. 17, before the Huskies visit Ohio (Jan. 20) and Ball State (Jan. 24). 

A home matchup against Western Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 27, and a trip to Miami on Saturday, Jan. 31, close the month before the Huskies step back out of league play on Saturday, Feb. 7, for the second leg of the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge. NIU will be on the road for that contest with matchup expected to be announced in January. 

League play resumes for the Huskies on Wednesday, Feb. 11, as Bowling Green comes to the NIU Convocation Center, followed by road trips to Central Michigan (Feb. 14) and Buffalo (Feb. 17). 

NIU hosts Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 21, before making the trip to Toledo to face the Rockets on Tuesday, Feb. 24. 

The Huskies will be at home for two of the last three to close their final season in the MAC as NIU welcomes Ball State to DeKalb on Saturday, Feb. 28, and Kent State visits on Tuesday, March 3. NIU wraps up the regular season on Friday, March 6, at Akron. 

Please note, with television windows still to be determined, the league schedule is subject to change. 

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.

2025-26 NIU Men's Basketball Conference Schedule
Dec. 20 – Central Michigan
Dec. 30 – Buffalo
Jan. 3 – at Kent State
Jan. 6 – Toledo
Jan. 13 – at Eastern Michigan
Jan. 17 – UMass
Jan. 20 – at Ohio
Jan. 24 – at Ball State
Jan. 27 – Western Michigan
Jan. 31 – at Miami
Feb. 11 – Bowling Green
Feb. 14 – at Central Michigan
Feb. 17 – at Buffalo
Feb. 21 – Ohio
Feb. 24 – at Toledo
Feb. 28 – Ball State
March 3 – Kent State
March 6 – at Akron