Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Hang On Again, 67-59
12/14/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 14, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Ben Johnson scored 18 points and converted a key three-point play as Northwestern blew a double-digit lead in the second half for the second straight game before hanging on for a 67-59 win over Jacksonville on Tuesday night.
Steve Lepore scored 14 points, Tavaras Hardy added 13 and freshman center Aaron Jennings contributed a career-high 12 for Northwestern (3-5).
The Wildcats led 32-20 at halftime and started the second half with an 8-2 scoring burst. Johnson made two free throws with 18:16 left to give Northwestern its biggest lead at 40-22.
The Dolphins (2-5) then outscored Northwestern 21-5 over the next eight minutes as their full-court press harassed the Wildcats into three turnovers and nine missed shots.
Antwan Robertson scored inside with 10:11 left in the game to draw the Dolphins to within two at 45-43.
But on Jacksonville's next possession, Johnson stripped the ball from Robertson inside, raced the length of the floor for a layup and got fouled by Robertson as he hit the shot. He sank the ensuing free throw and made two more foul shots 25 seconds later as Northwestern's lead stretched to seven.
The Dolphins got no closer than five points the rest of the way.
Kevin Sheppard and Calvin Slaughter scored 14 points apiece to pace Jacksonville.
The Wildcats had a similar near-collapse against Nicholls State on Saturday, blowing a 17-point second-half lead before coming back to earn a 56-49 victory.
