SIU Edwardsville @ Northwestern preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2015 ) SIU - Edwardsville 56, Northwestern 81

Northwestern looks to get back on track when it resumes non-conference play at home to SIU-Edwardsville on Sunday. The Wildcats suffered a 58-44 defeat to Purdue in their Big Ten opener on Dec. 8 to drop to 4-4, which is their worst start since the 2013-14 season, and hope to turn their fortunes around by posting two straight home wins for the first time this year.

"We're a super young team that's growing and where we are now versus game one we're a better team," Northwestern coach Chris Collins told reporters. "Guys are getting confidence and guys are getting experience but now we have to learn how to win." Northwestern has won five all-time meetings with SIU-Edwardsville, including their last two matchups by an average margin of 34 points. The Wildcats have dropped two of their first four non-conference home games, including disappointing setbacks to Merrimack and Radford, after winning 12 of their previous 13 games against non-Big Ten opponents at home dating back to Nov. 2017. SIU-Edwardsville blew a 13-point lead en route to a 89-81 loss to Chicago State to see their losing streak reach five games, and it hopes to stop the bleeding by ending an eight-game skid to Big Ten opponents since 2010-11.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT SIU-EDWARDSVILLE (2-7): Zeke Moore went 4-of-6 from 3-point range en route to a career-high 28 points to go along with six rebounds in the loss to Chicago State. Tyresse Williford scored 15 points and Mike Adewunmi added 13 in a reserve role, but the Cougars were doomed by a 15-of-28 performance from the free throw line. "It's frustrating and tough because of the way it unfolded but it's part of the process and we have to learn from it," SIUE coach Brian Barone told reporters. "We had a big lead but some of our emotions got the best of us."

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (4-4): Pete Nance finished with a team-high 14 points to go along with six rebounds. Miller Kopp added nine points while Robbie Beran tallied seven as Northwestern was held to a season-low 16 points in the first half and couldn't dig out of their hole. Ryan Young was limited to three points on 1-of-7 shooting after scoring in double figures in three of his previous four games while Boo Buie finished with six points, as the Wildcats were limited to 34 percent shooting from the field.

TIP-INS

1. Northwestern is ranked 10th nationally in free throw percentage (79.4).

2. Kopp has scored in double figures in six of his eight games this season.

3. SIUE is 5-19 in non-conference road games since the start of 2016-17.

PREDICTION: Northwestern 79, SIU-Edwardsville 62