Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Robert Morris
Vukusic Pushes Wildcats Past Robert Morris, 72-58
12/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2004
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Vedran Vukusic scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds -- the first double-double of his college career -- and Mike Thompson added 16 points to lead Northwestern to a 72-58 victory over Robert Morris on Wednesday night.
Northwestern (5-5) absolutely blitzed the Colonials in the first half, opening the game with a 19-4 lead. Thompson scored 13 points in the first half on 6-of-7 shooting, while Vukusic added 12 on 5-of-7 shooting.
The deluge continued as Northwestern went up by 28 points late in the half on a Vukusic basket, making it 42-14. However, Robert Morris (2-7) scored the last six points before the break -- a portent of things to come -- and the teams went into the locker room with the Wildcats up 42-20.
Vukusic made the first two free throws of the second half to put the Wildcats up 44-20, but Robert Morris proceeded to rip off a 27-6 run after that. Mark Anderson and Derek Coleman both had seven points in the span for Robert Morris, and as a team the Colonials had five 3-pointers during the stretch. By the time Christopher Gooden's trey cut Northwestern's lead to 50-47 with 10:18 left in the game, one could feel the panic setting in among the Wildcat faithful.
Northwestern was able to hold on, though. The key stretch of the game came with just under seven minutes to play, with the Wildcats' lead still precarious at five points (56-51). That was when Vukusic drained a three-pointer from the corner. Following a defensive stop, Vukusic again took aim from long range and again hit -- the fourth of his five treys on the night -- pushing NU's lead to double digits. He punctuated his streak by blocking a Robert Morris shot, then getting fouled at the offensive end and making one of two free throws. The personal seven-point run gave the 'Cats a 63-51 edge, and Robert Morris never got within single digits again.
Northwestern had 21 assists on its 23 baskets in the game and took a season-high 29 free throws to offset its season-low 40 field-goal attempts.
Coleman scored 16 points for Robert Morris and Chaz McCrommon added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
