Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Wildcats Outlast Islanders, 59-51
2/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2005
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Vedran Vukusic scored 23 points despite a subpar shooting night, and senior walk-on Michael Jenkins added a career-high 11 to lead Northwestern to a 59-51 victory over stubborn Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Monday night.
The win was the third in the last four games for the Wildcats (12-12), who have five regular-season games left including three at home. NU must go 3-2 the rest of the way to enter the Big Ten Tournament with a record above .500, which would assure the 'Cats of being eligible for postseason play.
Thomas Bailey fired what proved to be the final salvo for the Islanders with 4:38 left, scoring the last of his 14 points to cut Northwestern's lead to 52-51. However, the 'Cats clamped down on defense and held Texas A&M-Corpus Christi scoreless the rest of the way.
At the other end, Jenkins made a three-pointer -- his third of the game -- to open NU's lead up to 57-51, and that finally allowed head coach Bill Carmody to breathe a sigh of relief. Jenkins finished the game with three rebounds, four assists (without a turnover) and three steals.
As a team, NU came up with 12 steals -- its fourth straight game reaching double figures in that category -- and forced 21 Islander turnovers. In the last four games, the Wildcats' opponents have made 85 turnovers.
"In the second half, we played harder," said Carmody. "We had a little more verve, and some guys stepped up. It seems like the same old story. The team is struggling, and somebody has to step up."
Vukusic scored his 23 points despite going just 1-of-10 from three-point land. The junior forward made up for his effort outside the arc by going 8-of-10 inside the arc, displaying a nice array of jumpers and layups.
"Vedran was worn out and did not shoot well," acknowledged Carmody. "He was tired, his shot was flat and he was not giving it a chance. He went something like 1-for-10 from 3-point range with some pretty good looks. I think the guy is worn out."
For TAMUCC, Bailey had 14 points and nine rebounds and Travis Bailey scored 11 points.
Seth Engelken put Texas A&M-Corpus Christi up 36-26 with two free throws early in the second half, but Northwestern responded with a 17-3 run, taking a 43-39 lead on T.J. Parker's three-pointer. Parker scored all eight of his points in the run.
NU is back in action at home Saturday, hosting Penn State and looking to avenge an earlier loss to the Nittany Lions in State College. Tipoff at Welsh-Ryan is slated for 1:30 p.m.
