Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
UPR-Mayaguez (San Juan Shootout)
Wildcats Take Down UPR-Mayaguez, 62-55
12/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2006
Box Score
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- True freshman Kevin Coble led four Wildcats in double figures with 16 points and nine boards as the Wildcats (7-3) evened their record at this year's San Juan Shootout to 1-1 with a 62-55 win over UPR-Mayaguez (0-8). The 'Cats will play Utah tomorrow at 1 p.m. (11 a.m. CT).
Unlike yesterday when he scored a majority of his points from beyond the arc, Coble displayed another dimension to his game today with 14 of his 16 points coming in the paint on running floaters, pull-up jumpers, back-door cuts and post-ups. He was 8-of-12 overall and chipped in with three assists.
Coble, who scored 12 in the second half, has been Mr. Consistency over the last four games, averaging 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the field.
The Wildcats led by a much as 13 in the second half when Jason Okrzesik's layup at the 6:07 mark gave NU a 54-41 lead. But UPR-Mayaguez went on a 12-3 run over the next five minutes, cutting the lead to 57-53 with 1:33 left.
But it was Coble again coming through, giving the Wildcats some extra cushion on NU's next possession with his eighth field goal of the game for the six-point lead. Craig Moore and Okrzesik combined to make 3-of-4 from the line in the final 34 seconds to seal the win.
In the first half the Wildcats battled back from a 26-16 deficit with a 14-4 run over seven minutes to end the half. Tim Doyle led with 10 first half points while Okrzesik and Jeremy Nash each knocked down a three during the run to tie the game at 30-all at the break.
Diego Garcia, who finished with 21 points, scored 11 in the first half and hit three from downtown.
Doyle finished with 12 points and four assists and made all six of his free throw attempts. Okrzesik tied his career-best with 11 points, including a key 3-pointer late in the second half, while Sterling Williams had a solid all-around game with 10 points and four boards. Vince Scott grabbed eight rebounds and finished with four points, two blocks and two steals.
After his zero rebound showing against Wheaton (Ill.), Scott has responded, grabbing 17 in the first two games of the shootout.
The Wildcats shot 50 percent for the game, sank 13-of-15 from the line and outrebounded Mayaguez 31-26.
