Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Bowling Green
Northwestern Nips Bowling Green, 62-60
12/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 7, 2002
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EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Freshman T.J. Parker hit a game-winning layup with seven seconds left Saturday -- the last of his team-high 15 points -- as Northwestern nipped Bowling Green, 62-60, at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Parker dribbled the length of the court and went around the Bowling Green defense for his game-winner. It came right after Bowling Green's Ronald Lewis was called for traveling with 15 seconds left.
The bucket capped a superb effort by NU's freshman point guard. In addition to his 15 points, Parker dished out two assists and had six steals, the most by a Wildcat player since Collier Drayton collected six thefts against Minnesota on Feb. 6, 2001.
Northwestern jumped all over the Falcons early, employing a zone press and reeling off 13 of the game's first 17 points. Bowling Green settled down, however, and methodically scored 14 straight points to take a 20-13 lead. That advantage swelled to as much as 10 (26-16) before the half ended with the Falcons up 36-31.
The Wildcats used another strong start in the second half, scoring seven of the first nine points to draw even at 38-38. The game remained tight the rest of the way, with NU holding the largest lead at 50-45.
John Reimold hit a three-pointer -- his fifth make in six attempts from beyond the arc -- with 2:57 left to give Bowling Green a 57-56 lead, but Aaron Jennings split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 57. After the teams went scoreless for nearly two minutes, Winston Blake hit a pair of free throws with just 49 seconds to play to put Northwestern up 59-57.
Jabari Mattox had hit a 3-pointer to give Bowling Green a 60-59 lead with 34 seconds left, before Jennings again knocked down one of two free throws to tie it up and set the stage for Parker's heroics.
Kevin Netter led Bowling Green in scoring with 20 points. Reimold finished with 17 points before fouling out with 49 seconds left.
Jennings and freshman Jimmy Maley had 13 points each for Northwestern, and Jennings also snared seven rebounds to tie Jitim Young for game-high honors (NU outrebounded Bowling Green for the game 33-31). Five of Young's seven boards came on the offensive glass.
Northwestern is off until next Wednesday, Dec. 18, due to exams. The Wildcats host Elon University on the 18th, and then Illinois-Chicago the next night. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
