After ending the calendar year on positive notes, Northwestern and Penn State hope to begin January with a victory when the Big Ten foes square off Thursday in University Park, Pa.

The Wildcats (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) concluded 2024 by winning their final four games — a tight overtime win over No. 19 Illinois and then three double-digit victories. Most recently, the team topped Northeastern 85-60 on Sunday as Ty Berry knocked down five 3-pointers en route to 23 points.

“Hopefully this is a springboard (for Berry), because we need him,” said Wildcats coach Chris Collins.

Brooks Barnhizer chipped in 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals for Northwestern, which overcame a 17-4 deficit to finish its nonconference slate with a 9-2 record. Now it’s on to full-time league play in the new year, beginning with Thursday’s date against the multi-faceted Nittany Lions (11-2, 1-1).

Penn State boasts dynamic point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. (14.8 points, 8.6 assists), efficient big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser (13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds) and a bevy of 3-point shooters

In Sunday’s 86-66 win over Penn, Baldwin registered 23 points and 10 assists, Konan Niederhauser chipped in 19 points and 15 boards and the Nittany Lions overcame uncharacteristic 4-of-18 shooting from long distance.

“When we’re connected and we’re on all cylinders, we could be pretty good,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said after his team won its third straight game and improved to 8-0 at home. “But the hardest thing with 18- to 22-year-olds is consistency, and that’s our goal.”

The Nittany Lions and Wildcats met twice last season with Northwestern sneaking away with wins by four and five points.

In the matchup at Penn State, back on Jan. 10, Barnhizer scored 23 points – then his career high – as Northwestern posted a 76-72 triumph. That victory also snapped a five-game losing streak in the series and gave the Wildcats their first win at Penn State since Dec. 27, 2016.

–Field Level Media