Northwestern
Iowa
Wildcats Clinch Winning Season, Beat Iowa 55-49
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2009
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Playing through the emotions that only Senior Day can bring, Northwestern was able to hold off visiting Iowa 55-49 in the final regular season home game of the year. Three players scored in double figures for NU, yet it was the eight points that senior Craig Moore scored in the waning minutes of the game that sealed the win.
The win brings Northwestern to 16-11 overall, including 7-9 in the Big Ten. Iowa drops to 14-15 on the season and 4-12 in the Big Ten. The win also clinches a winning season for the Wildcats.
Kevin Coble led NU with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Michael Thompson added 14 and Moore had 11. Jake Kelly paced the Hawkeyes with a game-high 23 points.
The contest started out quickly, with the teams trading baskets early. Iowa's Matt Gatens got started right were he left off last time against the Wildcats, scoring the first five points for the Hawkeyes. Northwestern responded quickly, however, spreading the ball around as five different players contributed to the early 12-7 Northwestern lead. The game's pace would slow down at this point, as both defenses created scoring droughts of over five minutes for their opponent.
Northwestern's lead continued throughout the first half of play, as a Kevin Coble free throw with 2:20 remaining widened the margin to 23-16. Iowa would not go away, however, as Kelly closed out the half with two 3-point baskets and brought the Hawkeyes to within one at the break, 23-22.
The second half of play started off at a crawl for both teams, as the squads combined to make four of 14 field goal attempts. Iowa turned their game up, however, as five different Hawkeyes contributed to a 13-3 run and a 39-32 lead with 11:00 left in the game.
Thompson had seen enough, though, as the sophomore guard sparked a 15-4 NU run with 3-point baskets on three consecutive offensive possessions. Coble added to the run with a trey of his own, and it was a three point basket off the hands of Moore that gave Northwestern a 47-43 lead.
The Wildcat lead stayed intact as the team buckled down on defense, holding the Hawkeyes to only four points in the last 4:54. The outcome was still in doubt with NU maintaining a slim 49-47 advantage with a minute to go. Despite struggling from the field all day, Moore hit a clutch trip with 53.0 seconds remaining to increase the lead to five and all but seal the win for the Wildcats.
As the final seconds of the game ticked off the clock, Moore went down to his and hands and knees to kiss the Northwestern Ncat at center court goodbye, visually happy to leave his home court a winner.
Northwestern returns to action at 5:30 p.m. Central time Wednesday as it travels to Purdue.
