Northwestern Wildcats Edged Out by Chicago State Cougars at Welsh-Ryan Arena
The Northwestern Wildcats, ranked 25th, faced a narrow defeat against the unranked Chicago State Cougars with a final score of 75-73. The Wildcats now stand with an overall record of 25-1, while the Cougars improved to 1-0.
In an intense matchup at Welsh-Ryan Arena, the Northwestern Wildcats displayed a strong performance but fell just short against the visiting Chicago State Cougars. The home team's effort was evident in their field goal percentage which stood at an impressive 49 percent compared to the Cougars' 48 percent. Despite this slight edge in shooting efficiency, it was not enough to secure victory.
The Wildcats excelled in distributing the ball as they racked up a total of 18 assists over the course of the game. This facilitated scoring opportunities and showcased their teamwork on offense. Additionally, they were able to convert eight out of their seventeen three-point attempts which translates to a remarkable three-point percentage of about 47 percent.
On defense, Northwestern managed four blocks and nine steals which contributed to their efforts in disrupting Chicago State's offensive flow. However, both teams ended up with fourteen turnovers each indicating a battle for control throughout the game.
The offensive rebounds were equal for both teams at seven apiece; however, when it came down to points off turnovers and second-chance points, there was little difference between them – fifteen for Northwestern and seventeen for Chicago State; eleven second-chance points for Northwestern compared to seven by Chicago State.
One area where Northwestern struggled was free throw accuracy; they made thirteen out of twenty attempts resulting in approximately sixty-five percent from the line – significantly lower than that of their opponents who shot an excellent eighty-six percent from free throw range.
Despite these challenges and leading by one point after halftime with thirty-eight first-half points versus thirty-seven by Chicago State, Northwestern could not maintain their lead as they scored thirty-five in the second half while allowing thirty-eight points by their opponents.
As fans look ahead after this close contest at Welsh-Ryan Arena before an attendance crowd of four thousand one hundred fifty-three spectators, attention turns towards future matchups. The next challenge facing them will be away against DePaul Blue Demons at Wintrust Arena located in Chicago on December 16th scheduled for broadcast on Fox Sports 1 channel two hundred nineteen starting at five-thirty PM Central Time. Fans can tune into this national TV broadcast as they hope for a return to winning ways following this hard-fought battle.