PETOSKEY — North Central Michigan College will host its fourth annual Hunger Games basketball doubleheader on Feb. 18, 2026, to address student food insecurity. The Timberwolves are scheduled to compete against the Alpena Community College Lumberjacks at Petoskey Plastics Arena.
Fans will receive free admission to both games by donating a nonperishable food item or making a monetary contribution. All donations will benefit the Campus Cupboard, an on-campus food pantry available to North Central students throughout the year.
The event is part of a Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) initiative designed to raise funds and awareness for student food pantries across member institutions. The competition encourages friendly rivalry between colleges to see which school can collect the most support for its local campus resources.
The women’s basketball game against Alpena tips off at 5:30 p.m. in Petoskey Plastics Arena. The men’s game is scheduled to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m. Fans attending the doubleheader can choose to bring a nonperishable food item or provide a monetary donation at the door instead of buying a standard ticket.
The Hunger Games competition has been a tradition within the MCCAA since 2014. Participating member institutions use the friendly athletic competition to increase awareness of food insecurity while raising funds for local student food pantries. North Central Michigan College previously led all participating colleges in the competition in 2023 and 2024.During the 2024 event, the Timberwolves collected more than 600 pounds of food, setting a new record for the college. That collection provided 4,606 meals for students. While the Timberwolves lost the competition to Montcalm Community College in 2025, officials expressed hope for a first-place finish this year.
NCMC Athletic Director Ashley Antonishen is overseeing the event and noted the impact of local contributions. “The generosity of our fans and community continues to inspire us,” Antonishen said. “We’re confident our community will step up as always to support students who rely on the Campus Cupboard. We’re excited to be the winner once again in the 2026 Hunger Games.”
Since its establishment in 2019, the Campus Cupboard has provided more than 33,000 meals to North Central students and their families. Current high-demand items for the pantry include boxed meals, pasta, canned fruits, canned vegetables and diapers. The pantry also seeks donations of toiletries and personal hygiene products.
North Central Michigan College is an open-door community college based in Petoskey with additional locations in Cheboygan and Gaylord. The institution is a member of both the National Junior College Athletic Association and the MCCAA. It currently holds a Veteran Friendly Gold designation from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
The fourth annual Hunger Games doubleheader will take place on Feb. 18, 2026. The college will continue to accept donations for the Campus Cupboard through its foundation website for those unable to attend the games.