DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team plays its first home game of 2026 on Tuesday night, Jan. 6, when the Huskies welcome Toledo to the NIU Convocation Center. Game time against the Rockets is scheduled for 7 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. 

NIU comes home for the first time in the New Year following a 77-73 setback at Kent State (Jan. 3). Makhai Valentine (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Huskies as NIU rallied from down 21 at halftime to within just two late in the contest. Valentine has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games and is averaging 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over that stretch.

Taj Walters (Bronx, N.Y./Moravian Prep) recorded his first career double-double against the Golden Flashes, tying a career-high with 13 points while grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds. Walters has scored 13 points in each of NIU's three conference games, increasing his offensive output by nearly nine points a game compared to non-conference play. 

NIU had 14 offensive rebounds on Saturday at Kent State and is averaging 14.4 offensive rebounds per game, tops in the MAC and 16th nationally.

The Rockets come to DeKalb with an 8-6 overall record, 2-0 in conference play with wins over Western Michigan, 84-79, on Dec. 30 and at Central Michigan, 78-75, on Jan. 3. Five players score in double figures for Toledo, led by 16.9 points per game from Sonny Wilson. Toledo ranks 16th in the nation in fouls per game, committing just 14.5 per contest, and 17th in free-throw percentage, shooting 77.7 percent from the line. 

The two teams met just once last season, an 89-85 Rockets victory in Toledo (Feb. 1, 2025). NIU's last victory in the series came on Feb. 27, 2024, when the Huskies earned a 75-72 win at Toledo.

Following Tuesday's game, NIU will next head back on the road as it travels to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The Huskies will be back home on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host UMass, tickets for all Huskie basketball home games are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.