Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Wildcats Defeated By Minnesota, 74-57
1/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 25, 2003
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MINNEAPOLIS - Moe Hargrow scored 19 points and Kevin Burleson added 16 as Minnesota overcame a slow start to beat Northwestern 74-57 on Saturday night and give the Wildcats their fifth-straight loss.
Burleson, who came into the game averaging 6.8 points per game, went 6-for-10 from the field, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range for the Golden Gophers (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten). The senior guard from Seattle, who had 13 points Wednesday against Michigan, scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time this season and had six assists.
Northwestern, which is 8-8 overall, fell to 0-5 in Big Ten play.
The Wildcats stayed within striking distance in the first half as both teams struggled with their shooting. But the Gophers found their touch after halftime while the Wildcats' shooting woes continued.
Northwestern went 19-for-53 from the floor and 3-for-19 from behind the arc; freshman Evan Seacat hit all of NU's three made treys, and they came in the second half.
Aaron Jennings, who at 6-foot-11 is Northwestern's tallest player, scored 16 points to lead the Wildcats. However, Minnesota's size again proved to be a problem for NU; although the Gophers only outrebounded the 'Cats 37-29, they blocked nine shots and contested many others which seemed to get Northwestern out of its rhythm.
T.J. Parker, who came into the game averaging 12.9 points to lead the Wildcats, was held to eight points on 4-for-8 shooting.
However, if there was a revelation for the Wildcats in the game, it was Parker's classmate and roommate Mohamed Hachad. The freshman guard played a season-high 22 minutes and provided a much-needed lift at the end of the first half. He ended the game with a season-high nine points and also had three assists and a steal.
Up 29-24 at the half, the Gophers came out aggressive in the opening moments of the second. Rick Rickert, who scored only four points in the first half and finished with eight, hit a jumper and converted a three-point play to get the Gophers going after halftime.
Michael Bauer hit a 3-pointer to spark a 12-0 run that put Minnesota up 51-31 with 13:12 to play. Bauer had eight points during the run and Hargrow had four. Minnesota's biggest lead came on a jumper by Hargrow which made it 61-38 with 8:28 left in the game.
Both teams started out cold and sluggish.
Rickert, Minnesota's leading scorer, opened the game by missing his first four shots. His only field goal of the first half came on a jumper from the top of the key after he blocked a shot on the other end.
Parker also was held to only four points in the half, but his jumper with 8:11 to go in the half pulled Northwestern to 17-10.
The Gophers led by nine points twice as the half winded down. But the Williams Arena crowd became restless and started booing the home team as the Gophers committed three straight turnovers and watched Northwestern pull to 27-24 with just over a minute to go in the half.
Jason Burke joined Seacat and Hachad in scoring nine points in the game.
Northwestern -- which is playing three in a row on the road -- next goes to Wisconsin this Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest at the Kohl Center.
