The Boston University Terriers are gearing up for an exciting matchup against the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday night, as they aim to secure a 2-0 start for the first time since 2013. This will mark their second road game of the season, with aspirations of winning their first two consecutive away contests since 2018.
In their season opener, the Terriers demonstrated strong performances, especially from sophomore Ben Defty, who marked his first career start with impressive stats—20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 steals. Freshman Sam Hughes made a notable debut, scoring 21 points, including five 3-pointers, which is the highest scoring debut by a freshman for the Terriers since Daman Tate in 2021. Hughes also showed his clutch ability by sinking two free throws with just 3.6 seconds left to tie the game and push it into overtime.
The team showcased resilience in overtime, focusing on defense to limit the Huskies to 37.5 percent shooting. Alongside Defty’s contributions, freshman Chance Gladden added 8 points and 5 assists off the bench, while graduate student Ethan Okwuosa recorded 8 points and 5 rebounds in his first appearance since last season.
On the other side, the Wildcats, who are coming off a 70-47 victory against Mercyhurst, were ranked 15th out of 18 programs in the Big Ten preseason media poll. They finished last season with a 17-16 record and are looking to bounce back this year. Cincinnati transfer Arrinten Page led the Wildcats with 18 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing their potential as they enter this competitive matchup.
The Terriers will face the Wildcats for only the second time in history, after falling to them in a close game back in 1959. BU will also kick off its 14-game home slate with a game against Brown on November 12. This marks the first of four Ivy League opponents they will face this season.
As the Terriers prepare for this historical clash in Evanston, the excitement is palpable. With strong performances in their season opener, they will be looking to carry this momentum into the game against Northwestern, aiming not only for a win but to assert themselves on the national stage. The game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. ET and will be available for streaming on Peacock.