The Valparaiso men’s basketball team will host Northern Illinois at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 a.m. (CT) on ESPN as part of the fifth annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, a 24-hour marathon of basketball over the ESPN family of networks which celebrates the opening of the college basketball season.

The Crusaders’ game against Northern Illinois will be the fifth of 11 contests on ESPN on the 13^th, as the marathon kicks off at midnight ET (11 p.m. CT) with West Virginia at Gonzaga.  Both Valparaiso and Northern Illinois will be making their debuts in the marathon.  For the Crusaders, it continues a trend of nationally-televised games, as Valpo appeared on the ESPN family of networks a program-record six times during the 2011-2012 season, including five of its final six games.

“What a thrill to be hosting a game during ESPN’s 24 hours of basketball!” said Crusader head coach Bryce Drew.  “It is always a great opportunity for our university and our basketball program to be on national television during the morning prime time hours.  We hope our fans set their alarms early that day, put some coffee on and come help pack the ARC!”

Valparaiso returns all five starters in 2012-2013 from a squad which won 22 games a season ago and captured the program’s first-ever Horizon League regular season championship en route to an appearance in the NIT.