DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team tips off the 2025-26 regular season on Monday night, Nov. 3, as the Huskies host ULM in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge. Game time against the Warhawks is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Last Tuesday, the Huskies scored an 82-68 exhibition victory over Quincy. JJ Taylor led four Huskies in double figures with 14 points. Makhai Valentine added 12 points, on four three-point field goals, while Gianni Cobb and Daemar Kelly each chipped in 11 points. Cobb also had nine assists and zero turnovers.
NIU shot 54.7 percent (29-of-53) from the field against Quincy, including 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from three-point range.
Monday’s matchup is the first half of this season’s MAC/Sun Belt Challenge, with all 12 MAC men’s basketball teams hosting Sun Belt foes. The MAC men’s teams will go on the road for the second leg of the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 7, with matchup to be determined in January. NIU is 1-3 all-time in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge.
ULM comes to DeKalb after recording a 7-25 mark a season ago, including 3-15 in Sun Belt Conference play. ULM did not participate in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge last season. Phil Cunningham begins his first season as head coach at ULM. The Warhawks were picked to finish 14th in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll.
Monday’s contest will be the first all-time meeting between NIU and ULM.
November 2, 2025
