DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team will return to action on Friday night, Nov. 11, when it travels to Evanston to face Northwestern. Game time against the Wildcats is slated for 7 p.m. and will be available via BTN+ as well as on radio on 94-9 WDKB and The Varsity Network app.
Friday’s matchup will be the 12th all-time between NIU and Northwestern, but the first since Nov. 12, 2010, when the Wildcats claimed a 97-78 victory in DeKalb. The Huskies will be looking for their third win in the series, with the last victory coming on Dec. 17, 1985, in Rockford. Rodney Davis scored a team-high 20 points in the 76-70 victory, Kenny Battle added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
NIU will be looking for its eighth win in school history against a current member of the Big Ten on Friday night. In addition to its two wins over Northwestern, the Huskies also have a pair of wins over Wisconsin as well as victories against Indiana, Michigan State and Nebraska, with the victory over the Cornhuskers coming in 1989 when they were members of the Big Eight.
David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) scored a game-high 31 points in the season opener for the Huskies. Coit led the nation in scoring at the NJCAA Division III level last season with 30.6 points per game, reaching the 30-point mark 15 times with three games of 40-plus points. NIU had just one 30-point performance a season ago as Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) netted 32 points against Bowling Green (Jan. 18, 2022). Williams had 23 in the season opener this season.
Northwestern opened the 2022-23 season with an 85-54 victory over Chicago State on Monday (Nov. 7). Four players scored in double figures for the Wildcats against the Cougars, led by 20 points from Robbie Beran. Boo Buie added 16 points, Ty Berry scored 14 and Chase Audige chipped in 13 points.
Following Friday’s contest, NIU will return home on Monday, Nov. 14, as the Huskies host Purdue Northwest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.
Season tickets for Huskie Basketball are also still on sale and can be purchased at NIUHuskies.com. Men’s basketball season tickets start at $80 for a “Huskie Land” general admission season ticket in sections 115-118 (lower bowl baseline). A reserved, lower bowl sideline seat is $120. NIU faculty and staff, NIU Alumni Association and Varsity Club members, senior citizens and 2022 NIU Football season ticket members can purchase men’s basketball season tickets for $105.
