VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball kicks off its 78th season and 23rd at the NCAA Division I level with a test Monday night at Big Ten member and reigning NCAA tournament team Northwestern. The Bearcats and Wildcats tip off at 8 p.m. (ET) at Welsh-Ryan Arena in the first of back-to-back BU matchups against Power 5 foes.

About Binghamton 

• Defeated Division II D'Youville 88-56 in exhibition game Wednesday
• Playing season opener on the road for the first time in eight years
• Returning to Welsh-Ryan Arena for first time since 2018
• Picked to finish fourth in Coaches' Preseason Poll for second straight year, matching highest predicted finish in 23 years of America East membership
• Return two starters in Armon Harried (11.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg., All-Defensive Team) and Dan Petcash (40% 3-pt.)
• Have nine newcomers: four freshmen and five transfers
• Highlight transfer is Syracuse graduate guard Symir Torrence, who played two seasons at Marquette and two at Syracuse, located 80 miles north of Binghamton
• Binghamton is one of just two America East programs (Vermont) to reach the conference tournament semifinals in each of the last two seasons

About Northwestern 

• Return three starters and seven lettermen from 22-12 team that finished tied for second in Big Ten (12-8) and advanced to second round of NCAA tournament (L 68-63 to UCLA) after beating No. 10 seed Boise State 75-67
• Head Coach Chris Collins (Duke '96) is in 11th season. He is the son of former NBA All-star Doug Collins
• Graduate guard Boo Buie (Albany, N.Y.) averaged 17.3 ppg and 4.5 apg last season and was All-Big Ten first team. Buie (1,541 career pts) was named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List for top point guard in country
• Defeated McKendree 85-63 in an exhibition game Wednesday
• Transfer class features former mid-major starters Blake Preston (Liberty), Justin Mullins (Denver) and Ryan Langborg (Princeton) as the Wildcats replace four rotational players, including second-leading scorer Chase Audige.

All-Time Series vs. Northwestern 

• The programs met just once, on Nov. 16, 2018 at Welsh-Ryan Arena with Northwestern winning 82-54
• Binghamton outscored the unbeaten Wildcats in the second half but couldn't overcome a rough first half
• The Wildcats put five players in double figures and shot 52 percent for the game.
• Hours before the game, the Bearcats and their famous ESPN alum Tony Kornheiser '70 were center stage during the taping of "Pardon the Interruption." Kornheiser and NU alum Michael Wilbon '80 sparred about their alma maters in front of a big audience.
• NU used its vast size advantage to jump out to a 22-7 lead and extended the margin to 48-19 at intermission

Binghamton vs. Big Ten, Power Fives 
The Bearcats are 0-6 all-time against members of the Big Ten (Michigan 0-3, Michigan State 0-2, Northwestern, Penn State). The closest BU has been in those six games was an 80-65 loss to Penn State in 2017. Binghamton's lone win against a Power 5 opponent was a 79-74 victory at University of Miami on Dec. 20, 2006. The Bearcats are 1-17 vs. Power 5 member teams (1-7 ACC, 0-6 Big Ten, 0-4 Big 12). 

Up Next
Binghamton heads to Pittsburgh and a Friday night test against ACC member Pitt. From there it's a quick turnaround and back home to host Keystone College Sunday afternoon at the Events Center.