TOLEDO, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team built an 18-point halftime lead and led wire-to-wire in a 79-66 victory over Toledo in an exhibition game on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 25) at Savage Arena. 

Four players scored in double figures for the Huskies as they shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field in the contest, including 40 percent (12-of-30) from three-point range. 

NIU took a 37-19 lead into halftime as the Huskies held the Rockets to just 33.3 percent (7-of-21) shooting from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including 0-of-7 from three-point range. 

The hosts shot the ball better after the intermission, going 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) from the floor, but the Huskies held off the Rockets as they shot 50 percent from the field (12-of-24) and 50 percent from three (6-of-12) in the second half. 

NIU outrebounded Toledo, 38-28, in the contest and the Huskies had 18 assists on their 27 made field goals. 

The Huskies will officially begin the 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 2, against Grambling as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon at 2 a.m. CT in Rock Hill, S.C., and the NIU regular season home opener is slated for Wednesday, Nov. 11, against Clarke University. 

Season tickets for the first year of the Matt Majkrzak era, as the Huskies move into the Horizon League, are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling the NIU Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).