Northwestern (15-13) at Depaul (17-12)               9:30 pm EST
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CHICAGO (Ticker) -- If history is any indication, tonight's
first-round National Invitation Tournament encounter at the
Rosemont Horizon between Northwestern and DePaul will come right
down to the wire. 

In 1983, before 17,499 fans at the Horizona, Deapul beat the
Wildcats, 65-63, in the second round of the NIT on Kenny
Paterson's buzzer-beating 40-foot jumper.  In 1994 at Welsh-Ryan
Arena in Evanston, Northwestern downed the Blue Demons, 69-68,
in a first round contest. 

Despite the proximity -- Evanston is located just north of
Chicago -- these teams have only met on 21 prior occassions,
DePaul holding a 15-6 advantage in the all-time series.
Northwestern, however, has won the past two meetings, including
a 72-59 home triumph last season. 

Northwestern's next loss would bring to a close the great career
of center Evan Eschmeyer, who has accumulated 1,787 points in
his career and has averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds this
season for the Wildcats (15-13). 

DePaul's success revolves around two freshmen who,
coicidentally, are both natives of Chicago.  Quentin Richardson
(19.0 points per game) and Lance Williams (13.9 ppg) are the top
two scorers for the Blue Demons (17-12). Richardson pulls down a
team-high 10.7 rebounds per contest. 

This will be DePaul's 13th appearance in the NIT.  The 1945
champions, the Blue Demons have also made the NIT Final Four
appearances -- 1940, 1944 and 1983. Overall, DePaul owns a 13-13
record in NIT play. 

Northwestern is competing in the NIT for the third time in
school history. 

The winner of this game will play either Fresno State or
California in the second round.