VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball (1-2) heads to Evanston, Ill. to ready for its first road game of the season - a Friday night encounter with Big Ten member Northwestern (2-0). The game will be broadcast on ESPNews with famous PTI co-hosts Tony Kornheiser '70 and Mike Wilbon (Northwestern '80) behind the microphone representing their respective alma maters.

After PTI is taped from New Welsh-Ryan Arena in the afternoon, the Bearcats and Huskies will tip-off at 7 p.m. (ET) in the newly renovated 7,039-seat arena. The arena is expected to be filled near capacity. 

QUICK HITS
• This is Binghamton's 72nd season of basketball, 18th at the Division I level
• BU was picked to finish 6th (of 9) in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll
• This is BU's first road game of the season and first appearance on ESPNews
• This is BU's fifth game all-time vs. Big Ten (0-4)
• The ESPNews broadcast will feature the PTI crew, Tony Kornheiser '70 and Michael Wilbon (Northwestern '80) as co-color anylysts. The pair are taping their ESPN show, Pardon the Interruption, in the afternoon from the Welsh Ryan Arena

Last time out
• Binghamton defeated Division III Misericordia on Monday, 107-64
• BU shot 58% for the game (14-for-26 3-pt FG) and outscored the visitors 48-26 in the paint
• Six different Bearcats scored in double figures, led by Sam Sessoms' 18 points
• Senior guard Timmy Rose dished out a season-high nine assists

About Northwestern
• Big Ten member located in Evanston, Ill., just outside of Chicago
• Have held first two opponents to less than 54 points 
• Return two starters and six lettermen from a 15-17 team last season
• Went 6-12 to finish 10th in the Big Ten
• Earned first NCAA tournament trip in 2017 and advanced to Round of 32 
• Picked to finish 12th in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll in 2018-19
• Opened with home wins over New Orleans (82-52) and American (63-51)
• Evansville transfer and 6-6 graduate guard Ryan Taylor has 1,264 career points

All-time series vs. Northwestern
• First-ever meeting 

Bearcats 0-4 against the Big Ten 
While Northwestern is a first-time opponent, BU has played four games against members of the Big Ten (Michigan 2x, Michigan State, Penn State). The closest loss was a 59-46 setback at Michigan in 2004-05. Last December BU lost at Penn State 80-65. The two other results were against third-ranked teams in the nation (No. 3 Michigan 67, BU 39 in 2012 and No. 3 Michigan State 76, BU 33 in 2015). 

Dempsey receives two-year contract extension
In the final year of his contract, seventh-year head coach Tommy Dempsey received a two-year extension on Nov. 13, keeping him atop the program through the 2020-21 season. 

Sessoms named America East Rookie of Week
After averaging 20 points in his first two collegiate games, freshman guard Sam Sessoms earned the America East Rookie of the Week honor for Nov. 12. He netted a game-high 27 points against Cornell and added 13 points vs. NJIT. 

Record six double-figure scorers pace BU in blowout win  
Led by a record six players in double figures, Binghamton took care of business in a 107-64 home win over Division III Misericordia on Nov. 12. A seventh player had nine points and the 43-point margin of victory was the third-highest in BU's 18-year Division I history.

Bruce sidelined with concussion 
Senior center Thomas Bruce has been relegated to the sidelines after suffering a concussion in preseason. The 6-foot-9 starter is one of the top rim protectors in the conference. The timetable for his return to the floor remains unclear.