Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Men's Basketball Squeezes Past Minnesota, 58-56
2/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Jitim Young had two key baskets and a crucial steal in the final 90 seconds Wednesday night as Northwestern held off Minnesota 58-56.
The win took on added significance after it was announced Indiana lost tonight. The Gophers could have moved into a three-way tie with the Hoosiers and Ohio State for first place in the Big Ten with a win. Instead, they remained third in the standings at 7-4.
Winston Blake led the Wildcats with 14 points, while Tavaras Hardy had 13 and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season (NU is 6-0 in those games). Young had a solid all-around game, scoring 12 points, snaring eight boards (four offensive), dishing out four assists and collecting four steals. The Wildcats (14-9, 5-6 Big Ten), who overcame a nine-point deficit in the second half, grabbed 17 offensive boards for the game.
With Northwestern down 55-51, Young made a steal, hit a layup and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but the Gophers (14-8, 7-4) could not corral the rebound, and moments later Young made a 3-pointer from the corner to give Northwestern the lead for good at 56-55 with 1:21 left.
Minnesota had three chances to tie or win. With four seconds left in regulation, Kerwin Fleming attempted to get off a shot but was stripped by Blake. Blake was fouled hard by Kevin Burleson, and hit both free throws to make the score 58-55.
Northwestern immediately fouled Fleming on the ensuing inbounds so that he could only shoot a 1-and-1. Fleming made the first, then intentionally missed the second, and Minnesota ended up with the ball when it went out of bounds. However, Aaron Jennings blocked Dusty Rychart's short baseline jumper with a second left to preserve the win.
For Minnesota, Rick Rickert scored 17 points and Rychart had 16 (14 in the second half).
A pair of treys from Burleson and Rickert put Minnesota ahead in the first half, 25-22, and the Gophers held a 29-28 halftime lead. Rickert had 13 points at the break.
As has been their habit, the Gophers got out strong in the second half. Northwestern managed only one basket in over six minutes, as Minnesota began the second half with a 10-2 run to take a 39-30 lead. However, the Wildcats responded by scoring 10 of the next 12 points to climb back in, 41-40, leaving the outcome to be determined down the stretch.
Northwestern is back in action Saturday, meeting Penn State Saturday at 3 p.m. CST. The game, to be played at the Nittany Lions' Bryce Jordan Center, will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
