Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 13
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m.
Northwestern
1-0
79
vs
57
UMass Lowell
0-1
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
UMass Lowell
34
23
57
Northwestern
32
47
79
Team Stats
UML
NU
FG%
.321
.453
3FG%
.381
.310
FT%
.650
.545
RB
37
45
TO
12
6
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballPhoto by: Stephen J. Carrera
Wildcats Open Season with Win over UMass Lowell, 79-57
11/13/2015 9:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Jasper Scherer
Northwestern Athletic Communications
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Aaron Falzon scored 20 points on just 11 shots, Alex Olah poured in 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Northwestern limited UMass Lowell to 32 percent shooting on the way to a 79-57 victory on Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Sanjay Lumpkin matched a career high with 12 rebounds, and Bryant McIntosh dished out a game-high eight assists. The Wildcats overcame a slow start, shooting 59 percent in the second half, including 8-of-16 from beyond the arc.
"In the second half, we said this is a new half and we have to go and win this game," Olah said. "Everybody just jumped on board. They trusted their shots. When you see the ball go in, everyone gains confidence...We realized they were getting tired and just pushed harder, and that's how we got a big lead."
On Northwestern's first possession of the year, Demps found Olah down low for an easy layup. A defensive battle ensued for the next several minutes, marked by turnovers and missed open shots from both sides. Northwestern held UMass Lowell without a basket for nearly eight minutes to start the game, but consecutive 3-pointers by freshman guard Isaac White cut the Wildcats' lead to 11-9.
After missing their first seven shots of the game, the River Hawks hit six straight field goal attempts and took a 25-16 lead as the 'Cats missed their first 11 3-point attempts. But Scottie Lindsey came up with a big putback dunk on a missed layup by McIntosh to bring Northwestern within five.
With just over three-and-a-half minutes left in the first half, Falzon, starting in his first career game, broke the dry spell with a long 3-pointer from the top of the arc. Then, minutes later, Lindsey forced a turnover and got the ball to McIntosh, who found Demps on the break for a layup that brought Northwestern within two points.
McIntosh hit a contested jumper near the baseline as time expired on the half, and the 'Cats headed into the break down 34-32 after trailing by as much as nine earlier in the game.
"I thought a really key stretch was at the end of the first half," said head coach Chris Collins. "We got out and ran, getting more into the transition game. It was big to cut it to two by the half."
Olah led Northwestern with eight points and five rebounds after the first half, and he moved into double digits on the score sheet with a jumper that leveled the score. Just before the 18-minute mark, Demps – alone in the corner – nailed his first 3-pointer of the game, giving the 'Cats a 38-35 lead. They extended their lead to 45-39 behind five quick points from McIntosh – a layup and a 3-pointer from the wing – and Nate Taphorn added a trey of his own a minute later.
Northwestern's 3-point barrage continued with Falzon's second of the game, then McIntosh and Taphorn knocked down threes on back-to-back plays to stretch Northwestern's lead to 61-50, its first double-digit advantage of the game.
The Wildcats continued to build their edge, using Olah's size advantage inside – the Romanian big man scored 13 points in the second half – and forced a slew of contested shots on defense. Eight of Lumpkin's career-high 12 rebounds came in the second half, and the 'Cats outrebounded UMass Lowell 24-15 during the final 20 minutes.
Falzon stayed red-hot, hitting a pair of threes, grabbing an offensive rebound for an easy putback layup and assisting on an Olah layup – all within a span of just over three minutes. He finished with 15 points in the half.
"I think he's as good a 3-point shooter, I'd match him up with anyone in the country," Collins said of Falzon. "He's still not as good a shooter as me. When people chase him off the three-point line, he showed that he's got other things too.
Northwestern ended on a 24-7 run, scoring from all over the court. The 'Cats finished with a 38-14 advantage on points in the paint but scored more than half its second-half points – 24 of 47 – on 3-pointers.
The 'Cats return to Welsh-Ryan at 7 p.m. Wednesday when they face Fairfield as part of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic.
Northwestern Notes vs. UMass Lowell
• Northwestern improves to 3-0 in season-openers under head coach Chris Collins. The Wildcats have won their last eight season-openers overall.
• True freshman Aaron Falzon got a start in his first collegiate game. It is the second straight year that a true freshman started a game for the Wildcats with Bryant McIntosh getting the starting nod last season.
• Falzon finished the game with 20 points, the most ever by a Northwestern freshman in his debut. The previous high was 18 points by Michael Jenkins vs. Illinois Wesleyan on Nov. 30, 1979.
• Northwestern held UMass Lowell without a field goal over the first 7:34 of the game as the River Hawks missed their first seven field goal attempts.
• After making only one of 13 3-point field goal attempts in the first half, Northwestern connected on eight of 16 attempts in the second half.
• Sanjay Lumpkin finished the game with 12 rebounds, marking the seventh double-digit rebounding game of his career. The total tied his career high that he previously achieved two other times.
• Alex Olah recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in a game for the third time in his career. He accomplished the feat twice last season.
• Olah's 21 points were four shy of his career high of 25 posted in a double-overtime win over Michigan March 3, 2015.
Northwestern Athletic Communications
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Aaron Falzon scored 20 points on just 11 shots, Alex Olah poured in 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Northwestern limited UMass Lowell to 32 percent shooting on the way to a 79-57 victory on Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Sanjay Lumpkin matched a career high with 12 rebounds, and Bryant McIntosh dished out a game-high eight assists. The Wildcats overcame a slow start, shooting 59 percent in the second half, including 8-of-16 from beyond the arc.
"In the second half, we said this is a new half and we have to go and win this game," Olah said. "Everybody just jumped on board. They trusted their shots. When you see the ball go in, everyone gains confidence...We realized they were getting tired and just pushed harder, and that's how we got a big lead."
On Northwestern's first possession of the year, Demps found Olah down low for an easy layup. A defensive battle ensued for the next several minutes, marked by turnovers and missed open shots from both sides. Northwestern held UMass Lowell without a basket for nearly eight minutes to start the game, but consecutive 3-pointers by freshman guard Isaac White cut the Wildcats' lead to 11-9.
After missing their first seven shots of the game, the River Hawks hit six straight field goal attempts and took a 25-16 lead as the 'Cats missed their first 11 3-point attempts. But Scottie Lindsey came up with a big putback dunk on a missed layup by McIntosh to bring Northwestern within five.
With just over three-and-a-half minutes left in the first half, Falzon, starting in his first career game, broke the dry spell with a long 3-pointer from the top of the arc. Then, minutes later, Lindsey forced a turnover and got the ball to McIntosh, who found Demps on the break for a layup that brought Northwestern within two points.
McIntosh hit a contested jumper near the baseline as time expired on the half, and the 'Cats headed into the break down 34-32 after trailing by as much as nine earlier in the game.
"I thought a really key stretch was at the end of the first half," said head coach Chris Collins. "We got out and ran, getting more into the transition game. It was big to cut it to two by the half."
Olah led Northwestern with eight points and five rebounds after the first half, and he moved into double digits on the score sheet with a jumper that leveled the score. Just before the 18-minute mark, Demps – alone in the corner – nailed his first 3-pointer of the game, giving the 'Cats a 38-35 lead. They extended their lead to 45-39 behind five quick points from McIntosh – a layup and a 3-pointer from the wing – and Nate Taphorn added a trey of his own a minute later.
Northwestern's 3-point barrage continued with Falzon's second of the game, then McIntosh and Taphorn knocked down threes on back-to-back plays to stretch Northwestern's lead to 61-50, its first double-digit advantage of the game.
The Wildcats continued to build their edge, using Olah's size advantage inside – the Romanian big man scored 13 points in the second half – and forced a slew of contested shots on defense. Eight of Lumpkin's career-high 12 rebounds came in the second half, and the 'Cats outrebounded UMass Lowell 24-15 during the final 20 minutes.
Falzon stayed red-hot, hitting a pair of threes, grabbing an offensive rebound for an easy putback layup and assisting on an Olah layup – all within a span of just over three minutes. He finished with 15 points in the half.
"I think he's as good a 3-point shooter, I'd match him up with anyone in the country," Collins said of Falzon. "He's still not as good a shooter as me. When people chase him off the three-point line, he showed that he's got other things too.
Northwestern ended on a 24-7 run, scoring from all over the court. The 'Cats finished with a 38-14 advantage on points in the paint but scored more than half its second-half points – 24 of 47 – on 3-pointers.
The 'Cats return to Welsh-Ryan at 7 p.m. Wednesday when they face Fairfield as part of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic.
Northwestern Notes vs. UMass Lowell
• Northwestern improves to 3-0 in season-openers under head coach Chris Collins. The Wildcats have won their last eight season-openers overall.
• True freshman Aaron Falzon got a start in his first collegiate game. It is the second straight year that a true freshman started a game for the Wildcats with Bryant McIntosh getting the starting nod last season.
• Falzon finished the game with 20 points, the most ever by a Northwestern freshman in his debut. The previous high was 18 points by Michael Jenkins vs. Illinois Wesleyan on Nov. 30, 1979.
• Northwestern held UMass Lowell without a field goal over the first 7:34 of the game as the River Hawks missed their first seven field goal attempts.
• After making only one of 13 3-point field goal attempts in the first half, Northwestern connected on eight of 16 attempts in the second half.
• Sanjay Lumpkin finished the game with 12 rebounds, marking the seventh double-digit rebounding game of his career. The total tied his career high that he previously achieved two other times.
• Alex Olah recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in a game for the third time in his career. He accomplished the feat twice last season.
• Olah's 21 points were four shy of his career high of 25 posted in a double-overtime win over Michigan March 3, 2015.
••••••
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