Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Northern Illinois
Wildcats Topple Huskies 77-55 in Season Opener
11/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2009
Box Score |
Quotes |
Photo Gallery 1 
|
Photo Gallery 2 |
Skip Myslenski's First Impressions
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Senior guard Jeremy Nash scored a career-high 20 points as the Northwestern men's basketball team took down Northern Illinois 77-55 in the season opener for both teams at Welsh-Ryan Arena Friday night.
The Wildcats got to the free throw line a whopping 48 times in the contest, the most for the program in head coach Bill Carmody's 10 seasons, and converted 34 times. Nash led the way, knocking down 10 of 12 attempts.
Trailing 16-11 at the 11:46 mark of the first half, NU went on a 23-5 run to take control. The Wildcats would eventually take a 39-25 lead into the intermission following Michael Thompson's runner at the buzzer.
Luka Mirkovic led the way in the first half, scoring 12 points, while Nash and Thompson added nine apiece.
Northern Illinois crept back within eight a 42-34 with 16:37 remaining, but the hosts scored 11 of the game's next 12 points to go ahead by 18 and they never looked back.
Northwestern took advantage of 33 fouls called on the Huskies as they had 21 more makes and 22 more attempts than the guests.
The Wildcats played the game without the services of senior forward Kevin Coble who injured his left foot in practice on Tuesday and continues to undergo evaluation to determine the severity of the injury.
NU returns to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday as it hosts nationally ranked Butler.
