The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 18, as the Huskies travel to Illinois State for the first matchup against the Redbirds since 2003. Game time in Normal is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+ and WDKB 94-9 FM.

Wednesday’s contest will be the 111th all-time between NIU and Illinois State, but just the third matchup in more than 40 years. The two schools met in 2002 and 2003, both Huskie victories, but prior to that had not played since 1982. Illinois State leads the all-time series, 67-43, but the Huskies have won six of the last seven against the Redbirds.

NIU returns to action following an 11-day layoff, which included a break for finals. Last time out against Northern Iowa, Joe Munden Jr. (Harlem, N.Y./Monsignor Scanlan) scored a team-high 14 points, Munden is averaging 10.5 points per game over the last two contests.

Quentin Jones (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) had 13 points against the Panthers and leads NIU in scoring at 15.0 points per game, ninth-best in the Mid-American Conference. Jones has scored in double figures in 8-of-10 games this season. He also ranks second in the league in blocked shots, averaging 1.4 per contest. As a team, NIU leads the MAC in blocks averaging 4.1 per game.

The Redbirds bring a 6-4 record into Wednesday’s matchup, including a 0-1 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play, and are coming off an 81-77 victory over Saint Louis (Dec. 15). Four players are scoring in double figures for Illinois State, led by 15.5 points per game from Chase Walker. Illinois State is ranked 14th nationally in free throw percentage (79.8 percent), 10th in three-point percentage (40.6 percent) and 27th in field goal percentage (49.6 percent).

Illinois State is the fourth Missouri Valley foe of the season for the Huskies, all of which have come on the road. NIU has already traveled to Bradley (Nov. 16), Valparaiso (Nov. 27) and Northern Iowa (Dec. 7).

Following Wednesday’s game, the Huskies will take a break for the Holidays before returning to action on Monday, Dec. 30, when they host East-West University. Game time against the Phantoms is slated for 6 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets.