Jan. 29, 2008
NU Game Notes vs. Texas-Pan American
Watch the free live web cast on BigTenNetwork.com
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern plays its final non-conference game of the regular season Wednesday as it hosts Texas-Pan American at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The contest will not be televised, but streaming video will be available at BigTenNetwork.com.
The game can also be heard on WGN Radio (720 AM) with Dave Eanet and David Kaplan on the call.
It will be Family Fun Night at Welsh-Ryan Arena with 300-level tickets costing just $5 for all fans. There will also be a halftime performance by Be the Groove, a Chicago-based rhythmic performance ensemble comprised largely of Northwestern alumni that fuses a variety of movement, percussion, and rhythmic techniques to create a unique style of its own.
Chicago State is the one common opponent for the teams so far this season. Northwestern posted a 65-47 victory on the Cougars' home court Jan. 16 while UT-Pan American won 85-76 at Chicago State on Monday. The Broncs will also play at Savannah State Feb. 28. NU defeated the Tigers 68-58 in Evanston Dec. 1.
Series History: Northwestern leads, 3-0. All three games have been played in Evanston.
Last Meeting: Kevin Coble paced four Wildcat players in double figures with 18 points as Northwestern defeated the Broncs 67-56 Feb. 21, 2007 in Evanston.
Last Time Out
A slow start proved to be too much for Northwestern to overcome Sunday at Illinois as it dropped a 70-37 decision. Michael Thompson led the Wildcats with 13 points. Trent Meacham scored a game-high 18 points for the Fighting Illini. After the Wildcats scored the first basket of the game on a 3-pointer by Thompson, the Fighting Illini responded with a 24-2 run to take a 19-point lead. Turnovers plagued the Wildcats in the opening half of play as they committed an uncharacteristic 10 miscues. Northwestern was finally able to get its offense going, as Sterling Williams capped an 11-4 spurt to get the Wildcats within 26-16 with 3:43 remaining in the opening half. Illinois would eventually take a 31-18 lead into the half. The second half started similar to the first as it took the Wildcats seven minutes and 32 seconds to connect on their first field goal. Illinois opened the second stanza on a 17-3 run to extend its lead to 27. The Illini shot 54.2 percent for the contest compared to 31 percent for Northwestern.
Scouting Texas-Pan American
The Broncs (14-10) have won seven straight games, including posting a 85-76 victory Monday night at Chicago State. Senior guard Paul Stoll led UTPA with 24 points, 11 assists and six rebounds.
Senior forward Zach Trader is the team's leading scorer, averaging 14.4 points per game. Stoll and Brian Burrell are close behind at 13.3 points per contest.
Texas-Pan American comes into the contest with the best record of any NCAA Division I independent.
UTPA assistant coach Ben Johnson played his first two seasons at Northwestern (2000, 2001) before transferring to Minnesota.
Up Next...
The Wildcats travel to 11th-ranked Indiana Sunday for an 11 a.m. Central time tip at Assembly Hall. The game is being televised by Big Ten Network.