Shurna, Wildcats Roar Past Wolverines, 74-60

1/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Jan. 18, 2011

Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

Northwestern 74, Michigan 60
Site: Welsh-Ryan Arena • Evanston, Ill.
Records: Northwestern (12-5, 3-4 Big Ten), Michigan (11-8, 1-5 Big Ten)
Up Next: Thursday, Jan. 20 vs. SIU-Edwardsville (Welsh-Ryan Arena), 5:30 p.m.
Tickets available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE

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EVANSTON, Ill. -- John Shurna finished with 24 points, 22 of which came in the opening half, and added eight rebounds as Northwestern pounced out to an early lead and never looked back, taking care of Michigan 74-60 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Drew Crawford got the Wildcats off to a good start as he scored eight of the team's first 10 points. The game was knotted at 10 apiece when Shurna got hot from the field. The junior forward hit one jumper before nailing back-to-back 3-pointers to give NU an eight-point lead.

Michigan was still within 25-20 with under eight minutes remaining in the half when Shurna stretched things out. He scored 12 consecutive points for Northwestern during a 12-4 run over a three-minute span, capped by his third and fourth triples of the stanza to force the Wolverines to burn a timeout.

Shurna scorched the nets, connecting on seven of 11 field goal attempts over the opening 20 minutes of play as he helped the Wildcats take a 44-31 lead at the intermission. NU assisted on 12 of its 15 baskets in the first half while committing only one turnover.

The visitors notched the first basket of the second period, but Northwestern rattled off 13 of the game's next 15 points to pull away to a 57-35 advantage. Michigan never got closer than 18 until the game's closing minutes and once the outcome had been decided.

Luka Mirkovic scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half to go along with eight rebounds, matching Shurna's total. Michael Thompson contributed 10 points and seven assists. Stu Douglass came off the bench to lead Michigan with 17 points.

Northwestern returns to action at 5:30 p.m. Thursday as it hosts SIU-Edwardsville in a nonconference matchup. The contest precedes a game between the NU women's team and Michigan. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.

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