Audige Puts on Career Performance in Close Contest at Ohio State

Wednesday, January 13

Columbus, OH

6 pm CT

Northwestern

6-5,3-4Big Ten

#21 Ohio State

10-3,4-3Big Ten

Northwestern

Ohio St.

Audige Puts on Career Performance in Close Contest at Ohio State

1/13/2021 8:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern fell 81-71 to No. 21 Ohio State Wednesday night, splitting the season series with the Buckeyes. The loss brought the Wildcats to 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten.

Redshirt sophomore Chase Audige came out of the gate on fire, scoring each of Northwestern's first 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the opening 5:45. He surpassed his season-high 20 points in the first half alone, scoring 21 on 9-of-15 from the field with a three-pointer. He also had four first-half rebounds. Audige's 21 points were the most in a half for Northwestern since Boo Buie had 21 in the second half against Michigan State in Dec. 2019.

Buie had a hand in perhaps the two most electric plays of the first half Wednesday night when he served up alley-oop dunks for Audige and Anthony Gaines. He finished the game with five assists to bring his team-leading assist total to 55 on the season.

With only two turnovers in the first half to go along with highlight-reel plays, Northwestern finished the frame with 33, marking the 10th game this year the Wildcats have scored 30 or more points at the break. Nonetheless, the 'Cats faced a deficit heading into the second half.

Junior Miller Kopp sparked the Northwestern offense to start the second half, scoring a quick four points to cut Ohio State's lead to seven. Kopp finished the game with 16 points and a new career-high 9 rebounds for the team lead.

Continuing his first half dominance, Audige kick-started an 8-0 run with a two-point jumper midway through the second half. Audige finished the night with a new career-high 25 points on 11-of-23 from the field. It marked the highest scoring performance for a Wildcat since Buie scored 30 against Michigan State earlier this season. Kopp contributed the next six points on the run with back-to-back makes from beyond the arc.

The Wildcats put together another 8-0 run just over two minutes later, and a Buie three-pointer capped the surge to pull the Wildcats within one point with 4:21 to play. It wasn't enough, however, as the Buckeyes pulled away to seal the victory.

Northwestern turned the ball over just four times in the game, the fewest Wildcat turnovers this season, while forcing 11 Ohio State turnovers.

Northwestern will be back in action at Welsh-Ryan Sunday against No. 5 Iowa. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. CT on CBS and WGN Radio.