Feb. 24, 2006
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Feb. 25, 2006-2:30/3:30 p.m. ET
Northwestern (13-12, 5-8 Big Ten)
at Penn State (13-12, 5-9 Big Ten)
Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)
University Park, Pa.
The Broadcasts
Radio--WGN 720 AM
(Dave Eanet, play-by-play; Nate Pomeday analyst)
Television--ESPN+ Regional (WCIU in Chicago)
(Mike Adamle, play-by-play; Gerg Kelser, analyst)
The Game
Fresh off a huge home victory over Wisconsin Thursday night, Northwestern now continues its crucial stretch run at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Penn State. Both teams are 13-12 on the season and are fighting for their postseason lives.
In the Wildcats' 62-51 win over the Badgers Thursday night Mohamed Hachad stole the show, netting a career-high 25 points on a career-high 11 field goals. Vedran Vukusic, who tied the all-time NU three-point record in that game, finished with 13.
The win over the Badgers moved Northwestern up to No. 77 in ESPN.com's Insider Daily RPI rankings with a 26 SOS rating. After Saturday the Wildcats finish up with two home games next week against No. 13 Ohio State and Minnesota.
Hachad Steals the Show
Mohamed Hachad scored a career-high 25 points as Northwestern beat Wisconsin 62-51, snapping the Badgers' three-game win streak. The senior guard shot 11-of-17 and hit two free throws with 47 seconds left that gave him 25-two more than his previous high against Illinois last season.
Hachad On Hot Streak
Mohamed Hachad is averaging 18.2 points over his last four games. He had 12 in just 22 minutes in the win over IPFW Feb. 11 before one of the best offensive weeks of his career last week. He had 17 in the road loss at Illinois and connected on three 3-pointers. Then at Ohio State last Saturday, Hachad scored 19 on a then-career-high nine field goals and tied a personal best with nine boards. With his team down 15 in the second half, Hachad scored 15 straight Wildcat points in the midst of a 19-6 NU run that cut OSU's lead to 52-50 with 3:44 left. But he saved his best for Thursday night's nationally televised game against the Badgers in which he recorded career-highs in points (25) and field goals (11).
Vukusic Hits 1,500 Points
With his first basket at the 16:02 mark in the first half at Ohio State last Saturday, Vedran Vukusic became the seventh player in 101 years of Wildcat basketball to reach 1,500 points. He finished with 17 points and after his 13-point effort vs. Wisconsin, he how has 1,528 and is now six points away from passing Cedric Neloms (1,533; 1991-95) for fifth place on NU's all-time scoring list.
Vukusic leads the Big Ten with 19.8 ppg and is on pace to finish third among the all-time scoring greats in Wildcat history behind Billy McKinney and Evan Eschmeyer.
Further, Vukusic can become the most prolific three-point shooter in Wildcat history today. After tying the record Thursday night with the 203rd make of his career, he now needs just one to own the all-time record outright.
Other Things to Watch For
Vukusic is on pace to become the first Wildcat since Ray Ragelis in 1951 to lead the Big Ten in scoring.
Vukusic has led the Wildcats in scoring 18 times this season, four away from tying the modern day record held by Evan Eschmeyer who led NU in scoring 22 times during the 1998-99 season.
At 19.8 ppg, Vukusic would become the first European player in Big Ten history to lead the conference in scoring.
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