Northwestern Hosts Indiana in Battle for Second Place

NORTHWESTERN MEN'S BASKETBALL: GAME INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Wednesday, Feb. 15	No. 14 Indiana	8 p.m. CT	Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Ill.	BTN	Live Stats
Radio: ESPN 1000 WMVP \| Twitter: @NUMensBball \| Instagram: @numensbball \| Digital Game Program

EVANSTON, Ill. – Second place in the Big Ten is on the line when Northwestern and No. 14 Indiana face off inside Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday, February 15 at 8 p.m. CT on BTN and ESPN 1000 WMVP. Both teams enter the contest sitting at 9-5 in Big Ten play on three-game win streaks. Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst) will broadcast the game on BTN, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) will call the game on ESPN 1000 WMVP and Sirius XM Channel 372.

The Wildcats (18-7, 9-5 B1G) earned one of the biggest wins in program history by defeating No. 1 Purdue 64-58 on Sunday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena. NU erased an 8-point deficit with 3:52 remaining in the game, ending the game on a 17-3 run to secure the victory. Boo Buie scored a game-high 26 points, and added four rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a career-high three blocks. After starting the game cold from the field, Chase Audige erupted for 10 points over 1:54 late in the second half, culminating with a three with 1:39 remaining to give Northwestern the lead for good at 59-57. Audige finished the game with 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Purdue's 58 points on Sunday tied their lowest output of the season.

The win marked Northwestern's third ranked win of the season, giving the 'Cats their third ranked win in a season for the first time since 1954-55. Northwestern now boasts a 3-1 record against ranked opponents. NU has never defeated four ranked teams in a single season.

Northwestern's defense has led the way for much of the year, holding opponents to just 61.9 points per game, good for third in the Big Ten and 20th nationally. NU ranks 17th in the country in opponent field goal percentage on 2-point attempts (45.0%). The 'Cats have held 12 opponents, including two of their last three, to 60 or fewer points this year, their most in a season since 2013-14 (16).

Northwestern ranks second in the Big Ten in steals per game, averaging 8.0 swipes per contest. Chase Audige ranks first in the conference, averaging 2.5 thefts per game. Audige's 62 steals this season ranks fifth in single-season program history, just four behind Jitim Young for fourth place.

Boo Buie's performances against Ohio State and Purdue earned him Big Ten Player of the Week and March Madness Player of the Week honors. Across two games, Buie averaged 22.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocked shots. The award is the second of his career.

Buie leads all Big Ten players and ranks 22nd nationally in free-throw percentage, knocking down 88% of his foul shots. His 861 minutes played ranks second in the Big Ten in total minutes played, trailing only Jalen Pickett (Penn State). The Albany, N.Y. native averages 34.4 minutes per game.

Robbie Beran has proved to be one of Northwestern's most important contributors this season, with the 'Cats going 7-1 when the Richmond, Va. native scores in double figures.

The 'Cats have won two straight and are looking for their third straight win over the Hoosiers for the first time since 2011. Indiana leads the all-time series, 120-55. Last time the two schools met, Northwestern came away with an 84-83 victory in Bloomington behind 19 points, eight assists, and six steals from Audige. The two teams have split the last ten meetings, 5-5. Chris Collins is 7-8 against Indiana, including a 4-2 mark against IU in Evanston.

The Hoosiers (18-7, 9-5 B1G) have won three straight, including wins over No. 1 Purdue, No. 24 Rutgers, and at Michigan. Trayce Jackson Davis averages a double-double for IU, scoring 20.2 points and hauling in 11.3 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino chips in 12.6 points and dishes out 4.2 assists per game.

Northwestern wraps up its three-game homestand when it hosts Iowa on Sunday, February 19 at 5:30 p.m. CT at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on BTN and ESPN 1000 WMVP.

Northwestern Hosts Indiana in Battle for Second Place

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Players Mentioned

Chase Audige

Robbie Beran

Boo Buie

Northwestern University Athletics