Northwestern guard Boo Buie, right, drives against Chicago State guard Brent Davis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern won 85-54. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Robbie Beran scored a career-high 20 points, Boo Buie added 16 points and Northwestern opened the season with an 85-54 rout of Chicago State on Monday night in Evanston.
Beran, who averaged 6.4 points per game last season, shot 4-for-8 from the field, including 2-of-3 3-pointers, and made 10 of 11 free throws. He had 7 rebounds.
Buie, the fifth-leading returning scorer in the Big Ten after averaging 14.1 points per game last season, had 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
Ty Berry had 14 points and 7 rebounds for the Wildcats and Chase Audige added 13 points and 9 assists.
After going scoreless themselves for the first two minutes, the Wildcats held Chicago State without a point until Elijah Weaver's 3-pointer with 13:11 left in the first half made the score 9-3.
Chicago State was within 16-13 with 8:27 left in the half before Northwestern pulled away with a 21-8 run for a 36-21 halftime lead. The Cougars didn't reach 30 points until 10:15 remained.
Elijah Weaver led Chicago State with 19 points, Jahsean Corbett had 14 points with 8 rebounds and Wesley Cardet scored 11 points.
Northwestern forward Tydus Verhoeven, center, battles for a rebound against Chicago State forward Arol Kacuol, left, and guard Faheim Meran during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern won 85-54. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Northwestern center Matthew Nicholson, left, shoots over Chicago State guard Jahsean Corbett during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern won 85-54. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Northwestern guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) shoots against Chicago State guard Wesley Cardet Jr., and forward Arol Kacuol, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern won 85-54. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago State guard Jahsean Corbett, center, battles for a rebound against Northwestern guard Brooks Barnhizer, left, and forward Robbie Beran during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern won 85-54. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)