'Cats Cruise Past Cougars, 98-55

1/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Jan. 20, 2011

Box Score | Quotes

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: Northwestern 98, SIU Edwardsville 55
Records: NU (13-5), SIU Edwardsville (5-16)
Next NU Event: Sunday, Jan. 23 -- vs. Wisconsin (Welsh-Ryan Arena), 11:30 a.m.
Tickets: Available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Five Northwestern players scored in double figures and three more added nine points as the Wildcats used a 34-5 first-half run en route to a 98-55 victory over SIU Edwardsville Thursday evening at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Drew Crawford led NU with 16 points, while Luka Mirkovic added 15.

The contest marked the sixth time this season that Northwestern scored 90 or more points in a game. It's the first time since the 1970-71 campaign that the program has surpassed 90 points at least six times.

The point total surpassed NU's previous season high of 97 achieved at Northern Illinois in the season-opener Nov. 12. It's the program's most points in a game since a 100-86 win over Wisconsin March 6, 1993.

As he did in Tuesday night's win over Michigan, Crawford had the hot hand early on for the Wildcats. He tallied nine points in the first five-plus minutes of the game, but SIUE hit its first four field goal attempts and trailed just 12-10.

Mirkovic picked up where Crawford left off, scoring 13 points in the first 12 minutes of the stanza. However, Northwestern had a tough time shaking the Cougars as its lead was just 21-17 midway through the half.

The hosts finally were able to shake SIUE as they thoroughly dominated the final 10 minutes of the period. Until the Cougars banked in a 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer, the Wildcats had held the visitors to only five points over a 10-minutes span while tallying 34 points of their own.

Northwestern shot 65.5 percent from the field (19-29) over the opening 20 minutes of play.

SIUE offered little resistance in the second half as all 11 Wildcats who played saw at least 10 minutes of action.

Crawford started the second half as he did the first, tallying seven points in the first two and a half minutes as NU went ahead 66-31.

The only thing left in doubt in the closing minutes was whether or not Northwestern would reach the century mark for the first time in 17 years. The Wildcats displayed great sportsmanship in the closing minute, though, as the team held for a shot clock violation with 32 seconds left and then held again on a possession to end the game.

Sophomore Reggie Hearn scored all of his career-high 10 points in the second half, while Nick Fruendt set a new personal best with nine points to go along with four steals. Mike Capocci, who made his first start in over three years in place of John Shurna, scored nine points and tied a career best with six assists.

JerShon Cobb and Alex Marcotullio contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, as Northwestern connected on 58.1 percent (36-62) of his field goal attempts. The Wildcats held a 38-22 rebounding advantage, including snaring 14 offensive boards.

NU returns to action at 11:30 a.m. Sunday as it hosts Wisconsin. Please note that the game time has changed from the previously published noon start. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.

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