Michigan St. @ Northwestern preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2019 ) Northwestern 55, Michigan St 81

No. 18 Michigan State looks to stay unbeaten in Big Ten play when it visits Northwestern on Wednesday night. The Spartans have won two in a row, including a 72-49 rout of Oakland on Saturday, while the Wildcats are coming off an easy win over SIU-Edwardsville on Sunday.

The Spartans are led by All-American guard Cassius Winston, who paces the team in scoring (16.9 points) and assists (6.0). Forward Xavier Tillman is Michigan State's best low-post scorer, averaging 12.9 points, while providing a major presence on the boards on both ends of the floor with a team-best 10.1 rebounds per game. Tillman's defense will be put to the test down low against 6-10 freshman center Ryan Young, who paced Northwestern's last win with a career-high 25 points. Young at 11 points per game is one of four double-figure scorers for Northwestern, which is led by Pete Nance's 11.9 points and team-best 7.5 rebounds per game.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (7-3, 1-0 Big Ten): Sophomore Gabe Brown has moved into the starting lineup with freshman Rocket Watts sidelined with injury, and it might be hard for Tom Izzo to take him out of the starting five even when Watts is healthy. Brown is averaging 11.6 points in his three starts this season, compared to 7.4 points when he comes off the bench. Brown has also proven to be a presence on the boards as a starter, averaging 6 per contest, though his 3-point shooting needs to improve, especially after an 0-for-5 showing against Oakland from beyond the arc.

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (5-4, 0-1): Offensive consistency has been a problem for Northwestern, especially over the last five games, with the Wildcats alternating wins and losses over that span. In the three victories, Northwestern averaged 77.3 points, but Chris Collins' squad managed just 51.5 points in the two losses, shooting a combined 37-of-105 from the floor. Unfortunately, even in their most recent win, the Wildcats struggled shooting the ball, as -- other than Young's 11-of-15 shooting -- they hit just 15-of-49 in a winning effort, including a 2-of-13 shooting night by guard Boo Buie.

TIP-INS

1. Michigan State leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in assists per game, averaging 18.8.

2. Northwestern G Pat Spencer has been heating up, averaging 12.4 points and 4 assists over the last five games.

3. The Wildcats forced a season-high 18 turnovers in Sunday's win over SIU-Edwardsville.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 79, Northwestern 68