---
title: "Northern Illinois, Grambling Set 3 a.m. Tipoff in Rock Hill"
url: https://www.hererockhill.com/2026/10/31/northern-illinois-grambling-3am-tipoff-rock-hill/
date: 2026-10-31T06:32:01-04:00
modified: 2026-10-31T06:32:01-04:00
author: "Erica B. Montoya"
categories: ["Sports"]
site: "HERE Rock Hill"
attribution: "HERE Rock Hill"
---

# Northern Illinois, Grambling Set 3 a.m. Tipoff in Rock Hill

> ROCK HILL, S.C. — Northern Illinois and Grambling will play one of the earliest games of the new men's college basketball season when they meet at 3 a.m. Eastern on Monday, Nov. 2, at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center. The matchup belongs to the Field of 68's 24-Hour Opening Day Marathon, a full

*Source: [HERE Rock Hill](https://www.hererockhill.com/2026/10/31/northern-illinois-grambling-3am-tipoff-rock-hill/) — October 31, 2026 by Erica B. Montoya*

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Northern Illinois and Grambling will play one of the earliest games of the new men’s college basketball season when they meet at 3 a.m. Eastern on Monday, Nov. 2, at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center.

The matchup belongs to the Field of 68’s 24-Hour Opening Day Marathon, a full day of games spread between Rock Hill and Sioux Falls, S.D. Rock Hill hosts the first four contests, with Appalachian State and Merrimack following at 6 a.m. and Queens taking on Winthrop at 9 a.m.

It is the first regular-season game for Northern Illinois under new head coach Matt Majkrzak. The Huskies struggled last winter, going 9-21 while scoring 69.5 points a game and giving up 77.8.

Grambling comes in after a 14-19 season in 2025-26, including a 6-7 mark outside its conference. The Tigers got 16.1 points a game off turnovers and 10.6 second-chance points.

Fans who cannot make it to the arena can stream the game on the Field of 68 YouTube channel and its feed on X.