Feb. 4, 2013

DEKALB, Ill. -- Northern Illinois has been paired with Eastern Illinois in the 2013 Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters, announced this evening. The Huskies will host the Panthers on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 23, at 3p.m., in the NIU Convocation Center. In conjuction with the BracketBuster contest, Northern Illinois will also be holding its annual alumni day festivities on Feb. 23.

NIU will be participating in the BracketBuster series for the ninth time in school history and will be facing Eastern Illinois for the second time in the event. The Huskies traveled to Charleston for the 2010 version of the BracketBuster, falling to the Panthers, 73-70.

This season, Eastern Illinois has a record of 6-17, 3-7 in Ohio Valley Conference play; the Panthers have won three of their last four games and will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 7, when they travel to UT Martin. Jay Spoonhour, the son of longtime collegiate head coach Charlie Spoonhour, is in his first season as head coach at Eastern Illinois. Northern Illinois leads the all-time series against EIU, 45-43.

In addition to the BracketBuster contest against Eastern Illinois, Feb. 23 will also serve as the Northern Illinois men’s basketball alumni day. The alumni game will take place at 12:30 p.m., with the doors at gate two of the NIU Convocation Center opening at 11:30 a.m.

Following the alumni game, the Huskie basketball coaching staff will host a pre-game “Chalk Talk,” with its alums before the contest against Eastern Illinois.

For more information about alumni day, contact NIU Assistant Director of Development Kyle Skarb at 815-753-9198 or kskarb1@niu.edu.