Northwestern To Face Rutgers on Friday Night

Friday, January 18

Piscataway, N.J.

6 p.m.

Northwestern

Rutgers

Northwestern To Face Rutgers on Friday Night

1/17/2019 2:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

NORTHWESTERN BASKETBALL: GAME DAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	TELEVISION	LIVE STATS
Friday, Jan. 18	Rutgers	6 p.m.	Rutgers Athletic Center Piscataway, N.J.	BTN	Sidearm
Radio: WGN Radio AM-720 (Dave Eanet and Joey Meyer) Social: Twitter (@NUMensBball) \| Instagram (@numensbball) \| Facebook Notes: Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern (10-7) will hit the road again as they head to Piscataway, New Jersey, to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-8). Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

Rutgers returns home after a two-game road swing. The Scarlet Knights last played on Tuesday at Purdue and lost, 89-54. The Boilermakers limited RU to a 27 percent field goal percentage in the second half of the setback.

Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins is 5-1 all-time against the Scarlet Knights. All time, Northwestern has a 9-2 advantage over Rutgers.

In Conference play, the 'Cats have been paced by senior center Dererk Pardon, who is coming off a 20-point performance at No. 2 Michigan. The Ohio native has registered three games of 20-plus points in Big Ten play thus far.

The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.

STORYLINES TO WATCH

FREE THROW MAGIC: Success from the free throw line has been a calling card for the Wildcats this season. Despite the setback at No. 2 Michigan, the Wildcats went 10-for-13 during the contest. Ryan Taylor and Anthony Gaines made all their free-throw attempts during the season; Taylor has been stellar from the charity stripe, making 30 of his 31 attempts this season.

ON THE REBOUND: Derek Pardon is playing hot close to the glass. He currently leads the Wildcats with an average of 7.8 rebounds per game and ranks third in the Big Ten for offensive rebounds and in the top 15 for defensive rebounds. Northwestern is 8-1 when Pardon collects eight or more rebounds.

DISH TO PASS: Northwestern is one of the most efficient offensive teams in the nation and in the Big Ten when it comes to passing. Nearly 64 percent of NU's baskets are assisted, the seventh-best rate in the NCAA and second-best in the Big Ten (trailing only Michigan State).

QUOTABLES

"We saw some things. The young guys got a lot of time. Pete Nance plays a lot of minutes, Miller Kopp plays a lot of minutes. Those guys got a chance, in a Big Ten atmosphere on the road, do some good things and learn. Hopefully they'll be better from it … They are a huge part of our future, but we also want them to be a part of our now."

Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins on NU's rookies

"I thought Pete [Nance] was active. He blocked some shots, his length is a factor. He will get more comfortable offensively and as he gains strength. … I thought he played athletic, I thought he played long, and he was active. It was definitely encouraging. We know he's a big part of what we are building here and he has the chance to be an outstanding player."

Collins on first-year Pete Nance

"I love Dererk [Pardon]. He's going to bring it every night. He's going to battle, he's going to give it everything he's got. I think he knew tonight, playing with a lot of young kids, not having Vic [Law] out there, he was going to have to really step up. I was proud of his effort."

Collins on senior Dererk Pardon

••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!