MARQUETTE – It will be a busy time for Northern Michigan University athletic teams this week.

While the men’s hockey team is off, the men’s and women’s basketball teams return to the Berry Events Center Thursday for games against Saginaw Valley State, the women at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the NMU women play Hillsdale at 1 p.m. at the BEC, the Wildcat men at 3 p.m.

As part of Northern’s game-day host program, spectators can get free tickets to the SVSU game at Stucko’s and Hillsdale game at Art Van Furniture & Household Appliance.

During Thursday’s games, spectators can also purchase a hot dog and soda pop for only $2 as part of a concessions special.

The Wildcats’ women’s track and field team, which won The Opener in early December, is in action Friday at Saginaw Valley State. The event is set for 2:30 p.m.

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams compete at a meet hosted by Wisconsin-Green Bay Saturday in their final tune-up before February’s GLIAC Championships.

The Nordic ski teams are back in action for the first time since their successful showing in Houghton at the U.S. Skiing Championships, competing at the Telemark Super Tour in Hayward, Wisconsin, Saturday and Sunday.