North Cook News

Northwestern Hoops Closes Non-Conference Slate Against Brown

Riding a four-game win streak, the Northwestern men's basketball team will close non-conference play in 2022-23 with a Noon CT tilt on Thursday, Dec. 29, inside Welsh-Ryan Arena against Brown. The game will air on BTN with two NU as Lisa Byington (play-by-play) and Tre Demps (analyst) have the call. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) have the radio call on AM 720 WGN.
 
The Wildcats (9-2) are off to their best start to a season since the 2016-17 team also opened the campaign 9-2. In its last contest on Dec. 20, NU trounced UIC 92-54 as five 'Cats had double figure scoring performances. Chase Audige led the way with 19 points with Brooks Barnhizer (18), Boo Buie (16), Julian Roper II (12) and Robbie Beran (20) joining him in double figures. Barnhizer notched career-highs in points, rebounds (8) and assists (5), becoming the first Wildcat to record an 18, 8 and 5 game since Vic Law in 2018 against Minnesota. The defense swarmed to force the Flames into 21 turnovers and forced its opponent into 20+ turnovers in back-to-back games for the first time since 2017 (Chicago State and Valpo). Northwestern shot a season-high 51.4% (36-for-70) from the field.
 
Defense continues to be the 'Cats calling card early in the season. NU ranks seventh nationally and second in the Big Ten holding opponents to an average of 55.5 points per game. The 'Cats are also third nationally and the Big Ten leaders in opponent field goal percentage (34.2%). Northwestern's 8.5 steals per game rank second in the conference.
 
The Wildcats are led in scoring by Audige (14.5 ppg) and followed closely by Buie (14.1 ppg). Audige enters Thursday's game needing just 12 points to reach 1,000 for his career. Beran is the team's leading rebounder pulling down 6.5 boards per game and is third on the team averaging 10.4 points per game. Audige (2.6 spg) and Ty Berry (1.8 spg) both rank inside the top three in the Big Ten in steals per game.
 
Northwestern will meet Brown for the 11th time and have an 8-2 all-time record against the Bears. The teams last met in 2017 in Allstate Arena in Rosemont, with NU pulling away for a 95-73 win. Dererk Pardon totaled a team-high 18 points and Scottie Lindsey pumped in his 1,000th career point. The 'Cats are 26-9 all-time against Ivy League schools.
 
Brown (7-5) has not played since defeating New Hampshire 67-51 on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at home. After opening the year dropping four of its first five games, the Bears have won six of their last seven games, with the only loss coming on the road to Michigan State, 68-50. Kino Lilly Jr. is the team's leading scorer (14.8 ppg) and scored a season-high 16 against New Hampshire. Paxson Wojcik leads the Ivy League with three double-doubles and 6.7 defensive rebounds per game.
 
Northwestern dives into Big Ten play for the remainder of the regular season at 6:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. 

Original source can be found here