By Danielle Daniels

1 27 2024

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern men’s basketball finishes its two-game homestand at Welsh-Ryan Arena with a Saturday night showdown against Ohio State on Saturday, Jan 27 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The contest will air on BTN with Dave Revsine (play-by-play) and Shon Morris (analyst) on the call, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) have the radio call on ESPN 1000 WMVP and SiriusXM Channel 383.

Last time out, the Wildcats (14-5, 5-3 B1G) defeated No. 10 Illinois 96-91 in overtime for their second top-10 takedown of the season on Wednesday night. The game featured an astonishing 18 lead changes and 15 ties, with the Wildcats pulling away with 20 points in overtime, tying for the most in Welsh-Ryan Arena (since 1983-84). Northwestern has recorded two AP Top 10 wins in a season for the first time in program history. Since 2022-23, Northwestern boasts a 6-4 record against AP Top 25 opponents, the second-best mark in the country, trailing only Purdue (8-1).

Northwestern has claimed two overtime wins this season for the first time since 2015-16 and has won two Big Ten overtime games for the first time since 1983-84. Both of Northwestern’s overtime wins are against Top 10 teams (No. 1 Purdue, No. 10 Illinois), becoming the fourth team alongside Louisville (2010-11), Michigan (2012-13) and Oklahoma State (2020-21) to win two or more games in a season in overtime against Top 10 teams.

The Wildcats shot 61.1% (11-for-18) from beyond the arc against the Fighting Illini, their best three-point percentage in a single-game since shooting 63.2% (12-for-19) against Georgia Tech on Nov. 30, 2010. NU ranks third in the conference and 31st nationally, shooting 37.4% from behind the arc.

Four Wildcats scored in double figures against Illinois (Boo Buie – 29, Brooks Barnhizer – 23, Ty Berry – 14, Matthew Nicholson – 12), marking the second time in three games that four ‘Cats have eclipsed the 10-point mark.

Boo Buie led all Wildcats with 29 points, seven assists, and three steals. In Northwestern’s wins over No. 1 Purdue and No. 10 Illinois, Buie is averaging 29 points, 8.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. The Albany, N.Y. native is eight points away from tying Billy McKinney (1973-77, 1,900) for third in Northwestern’s career scoring record books.

Brooks Barnhizer recorded 23 points on a season-high four three-pointers made, logging 23 or more points in back-to-back games. Northwestern is 11-3 in his career when Barnhizer scores 15-plus points.

Ty Berry scored all of his 14 points in the second half and overtime. Berry is shooting 42.3% this season from behind the arc, which ranks second in the Big Ten (min. 100 attempts).

Northwestern is averaging 77.8 points per game during conference play this season, its best mark since posting 79.7 points per game in 1970-71. The ‘Cats have scored 88 or more points in three Big Ten games for the first time since 1975-76.

Ohio State leads the all-time series 129-49. Northwestern claimed the most recent meeting 69-63 in Columbus on Feb. 9, 2022. Barnhizer and Buie led all Wildcats with 19 points each.

OSU enters Saturday night’s matchup at 13-6 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Three Buckeyes average double digit points per game, Bruce Thornton (16.0), Jamison Battle (14.2), and Roddy Gayle Jr. (13.7).

Following Saturday’s game, Wildcats hit the road for a pair of contests, first traveling to West Lafayette to take on Purdue on Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. CT on BTN and WGN Radio 720.

COURTESY NORTHWESTERN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS