BRISTOL, Conn. – Eastern Illinois will renew a former rivalry on Feb. 20 as the Panthers have drawn Northern Illinois as their opponent in this year's ESPNU Bracketbuster game. The contest which will tip at 6 p.m. in Lantz Arena marks the fifth time that EIU has participated in the annual event.

EIU and NIU have met 85 previous times on the basketball court with the Huskies holding a slim 43-42 series advantage. The last time the two schools met was Dec. 11, 2004 with NIU picking up a 76-60 win in Charleston. As part of the Bracketbusters set up, EIU will play a return game in DeKalb at the start of the 2011-12 basketball season.

The Panthers are 1-3 in previous Bracketbuster games picking up a win at Western Michigan last season. Other EIU opponents in the annual event have included Eastern Michigan, Loyola-Chicago and Evansville.

EIU is currently 11-11 on the season 5-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers return to action on Saturday with a road game at Southeast Missouri.

NIU is currently 8-11 on the season and 4-3 in the Mid-American Conference.

OTHER OVC BRACKETBUSTER MATCH-UPS
Oral Roberts at Austin Peay
Winthrop at Eastern Kentucky
Presbyterian at Jacksonville State
Morehead State at Illinois State
Southeast Missouri at Miami (Ohio)
SIU Edwardsville at Cal State Fullerton
Tennessee State at Central Michigan
Tennessee Tech at Appalachian State
UT Martin at Ball State

Murray State's opponent will be announced on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m. Monday evening as part of the television program surrounding Bracketbusters.