Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Northwestern Rolls Over Michigan, 69-53
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2005
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Vedran Vukusic scored 26 points and Mohamed Hachad added 14 to lead Northwestern to an important 69-53 victory over Michigan on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (14-13, 6-8 Big Ten) must win one of their last two games (Wednesday at home vs. Michigan State, next Saturday at Indiana) to finish the regular season above .500 and be eligible for a postseason bid.
"We made sure everyone knew what the deal was with regard to postseason chances," said NU head coach Bill Carmody. "Win one more, and you are eligible; you have a chance."
NU opened the game with a 24-2 run, triggered by senior walk-on Michael Jenkins. First, he converted a four-point play when he was fouled as he hit a three-point field goal. Then, on NU's next possession, Jenkins tried to hit Hachad with an alley-oop pass, but instead the ball went in the hoop and counted as another trey.
Vukusic followed that up with yet another three-pointer, making it 24-2 with 12:03 left in the first half.
"We came out with a lot of energy," said Carmody. "It was a quick start, and it was a struggle for them to get back in. In the second half, we were able to keep it 10 (points) and above. I am happy with our effort. We finally hit some shots, and I really thought Jenkins set the tone in the press early. Mohamed also did well; he did some stuff not everyone can do."
Hachad brought the crowd to its feet on two occasions during the night en route to 14 points, his third straight game in double digits. In the first half, he dropped a pass between his legs to Jenkins for a layup; in the second half, he faked a no-look pass on the fast break and converted it for a layup.
Northwestern used its quick start and extended the lead to 30-6 before the Wolverines began clawing their way back.
Michigan (13-16, 4-11) committed six turnovers in the first seven minutes of the game; however, they managed to cut Northwestern's lead to 33-23 on Ron Coleman's trifecta late in the first half and trailed 36-23 at the break.
Despite their best efforts, the Wolverines were only able to get within 10 points in the second half.
Brent Petway made two free throws to cut Northwestern's lead to 45-35 with 12:55 left, but Northwestern scored eight straight points as Vukusic and Vince Scott hit back-to-back three-pointers. Scott finished the game with 12 points -- all of them coming on shots beyond the arc, where the Big Ten's leading long-range marksman was 4-of-6 -- while Jenkins had nine.
Vukusic, meanwhile, had a monster night. The junior forward was a staggering 11-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point land. He also dished out three assists.
As a team, Northwestern set season highs with 12 treys and 54.5 percent (12-of-22) on its shooting beyond the arc.
Coleman scored 13 points for Michigan and Dion Harris added 12.
Northwestern and Michigan State will tip off at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Prior to the game, at approximately 6:45, Carmody and the program will hold Senior Night festivities for Jenkins and Davor Duvancic.
