Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
DePaul
Wildcats Edged By Intra-City Rival
11/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2007
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) - Draelon Burns hit a short lean-in, go-ahead basket from the lane with 6.4 seconds left, and DePaul's Karron Clarke blocked a last-second shot attempt Saturday as the Blue Demons beat Northwestern 54-53.
Northwestern's Sterling Williams had a chance to win it, but couldn't convert his driving shot right before the buzzer as Clarke got a piece of the ball.
Northwestern (0-2) took a 53-52 lead with 47.8 seconds left when Jason Okrzesik banked in a 3-pointer.
After a timeout, Burns missed a shot, but DePaul retained possession when the ball went off Northwestern during a scramble for the rebound with 16 seconds left.
Given another chance, Burns converted.
Freshman Michael Thompson led Northwestern with 24 points before fouling out with 3:19 to go.
Earlier in the half, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound Thompson picked up a techcnical foul after he was fouled hard by DePaul's 6-foot-9, 300-pound Wesley Green. Officials ruled an intentional foul on Green on the play, and the teams exchanged two free throws.
One possession later, Thompson hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game to tie the game at 45.
Will Walker, who led DePaul (1-1) with 13 points, hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 50-50 and then made a driving shot to give the Blue Demons a 52-50 lead with 1:14 to go.
DePaul owned a big 46-26 rebound advantage to win, despite shooting just 35 percent. The Blue Demons also had an 18-2 margin in offensive boards.
DePaul had a 23-15 lead after Jabari Currie hit a jumper to give him 10 first-half points.
But Thompson, who finished the half with 13 points, and Craig Moore then got the Wildcats rolling on a 12-3 run to close the half.
Moore hit three free throws after being fouled behind the line and then sank a 3-pointer from the corner before Thompson made back-to-back 3-pointers as Northwestern took a 27-26 halftime lead.
