After ending the calendar year on positive notes, Northwestern and Penn State hope to begin January with a victory when the Big Ten foes square off Thursday in University Park, Pa.The Wildcats (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) concluded 2024 by winning their final four games — a tight overtime win over No. 19 Illinois and then three double-digit victories. Most recently, the team topped Northeastern 85-60 on Sunday as Ty Berry knocked down five 3-pointers en route to 23 points.”Hopefully this is a springboard (for Berry), because we need him,” said Wildcats coach Chris Collins.Brooks Barnhizer chipped in 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals for Northwestern, which overcame a 17-4 deficit to finish its nonconference slate with a 9-2 record. Now it’s on to full-time league play in the new year, beginning with Thursday’s date against the multi-faceted Nittany Lions (11-2, 1-1).Penn State boasts dynamic point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. (14.8 points, 8.6 assists), efficient big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser (13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds) and a bevy of 3-point shootersIn Sunday’s 86-66 win over Penn, Baldwin registered 23 points and 10 assists, Konan Niederhauser chipped in 19 points and 15 boards and the Nittany Lions overcame uncharacteristic 4-of-18 shooting from long distance.