NIU Men’s Basketball Set to Open 2026‑27 Season Against Grambling
The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team will tip off the 2026‑27 campaign on Monday, Nov. 2, at 2 a.m. CT against Grambling State in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. The game will be held at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, S.C., and will be streamed live on the Field of 68 YouTube channel. Radio listeners can tune in to 94‑9 WDKB, where Andy Garcia and Rodney Davis will provide play‑by‑play coverage.
Season Opener Details
This matchup marks the official debut of head coach Matt Majkrzak, who takes over a program entering its first season as a member of the Horizon League. The Huskies used the past month to prepare, winning exhibition games against Northern Michigan (78‑43) on Oct. 17 and Toledo (79‑66) on Oct. 25. The early‑morning tip‑off is part of a national television event that showcases opening‑week contests from across the country.
Majkrzak Era Begins With Roster Overhaul
Majkrzak arrives at NIU after a successful tenure at Northern Michigan, bringing four players with him: Bennett Basich, Keller Hanson, Cal Klesmit and Trevor Polite. Max Wiesbrod, who played two seasons under Majkrzak at Northern Michigan and two more at Northern Iowa, also joins the roster. The recruiting class includes freshmen Izaya Larthridge and Nathan Ramus, both of whom originally signed with Northern Michigan before enrolling in DeKalb. The result is a 16‑man roster with no returning letterwinners, representing the second consecutive season of complete turnover for the Huskies.
Grambling State and Horizon League Outlook
Grambling State finished the 2025‑26 season with a 14‑19 record, including a 7‑11 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The Tigers lost each of their top nine scorers, with Mekhi Fitts the leading returnee after averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 23 games. This will be the second straight year NIU opens against a Louisiana school; last season the Huskies defeated ULM 102‑82 in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge. After the Grambling game, NIU travels to Tulsa on Nov. 5 for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Golden Hurricane, which will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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