Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 11
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m.
Northwestern
94
vs
63
Mississippi Valley State
Northwestern Rolls Over MVSU In Season Opener
11/11/2016 8:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Box ScoreBox Score (PDF)HighlightsPress Conference BitesPress Conference (Chris Collins)Press Conference (Lindsey | Law)
Law paces Wildcats with career-high 18 points
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Vic Law scored a career-high 18 points with six rebounds and Scottie Lindsey added 17 points and five boards as Northwestern swept aside Mississippi Valley State 94-63 in the season-opener for both teams Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Sanjay Lumpkin stuffed the stat sheet, recording 11 points, eight rebounds, and a pair each of blocks and assists, and Bryant McIntosh added 11 points and four assists. Ten of the 11 Wildcats who played scored multiple baskets as Northwestern racked up 21 assists.
"For us to come out and play the way we did early, I was very impressed," said Northwestern head coach Chris Collins. "We have to share the ball to be good. We're not really a one-on-one team. We're at our best when we're moving the ball, cutting and screening, not knowing who's going to score the ball, and to me, that's a real fun way to play."
Law, returning to the lineup after missing last season through injury, showed no signs of rust as he sparked Northwestern's opening outburst. After scoring the Wildcats' first points of the season with a midrange jumper, Law fully announced his return by stealing an inbounds pass and slamming home a thunderous dunk in front of the student section.
"To get that steal and dunk, it was a big relief, and I feel like it just energized me," said Law.
That sparked a 12-2 run to give Northwestern 17-8 lead after five and a half minutes. Law continued his hot start, draining back-to-back threes, giving him 10 points and an assist after just six minutes.
"I thought he played with a smile on his face," said Collins. "Just to see him relax and having fun playing basketball, I knew he was going to have success when you saw a different kind of guy than you did last week."
Northwestern's defense stymied the Delta Devils' offense in the first half, holding them to just 38 percent shooting. Gavin Skelly anchored the #B1GCats with three blocks in the half, while Northwestern also was able to hold MVSU to just four offensive rebounds.
An 11-4 Northwestern run midway through the half gave the Wildcats a commanding 37-19 lead. Dererk Pardon showed his mettle in the middle, scoring at the rim on consecutive possessions to bring the student section to life. Lindsey knocked down a three just before the half to bring his game-leading total to 13, as Northwestern went into the half leading 46-28.
The Wildcat offense purred in the first half behind clinically efficient shot selection. Almost half of their points came from three, where they had 21 points on 41 percent shooting, while also adding 10 points in the paint and 11 from free throws.
Law again opened the second half just as hot as he had the first, finishing off an alley-oop from Isiah Brown, before adding a free throw and a three minutes later to put the #B1GCats ahead 57-35 four minutes into the half. Brown made his competitive debut, and notched three assists in four minutes, before scoring on consecutive possessions.
Northwestern's defense continued to keep MVSU at bay in the second, holding the Delta Devils to just 37 percent shooting for the night. Additionally, the Wildcats turned 12 turnovers into 17 points.
Brown scored nine of his 11 points after the intermission, and fellow freshman Barret Benson made his collegiate debut in the second half, scoring four points and adding two rebounds.
Northwestern returns to action on Monday, Nov. 14 hosting Eastern Washington in Welsh-Ryan Arena at 8 p.m.
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Northwestern Notes vs. Mississippi Valley State
Nov. 11, 2016
• Northwestern won its ninth straight season-opener. The Wildcats are 4-0 in season-openers under head coach Chris Collins.
• NU improves to 7-1 all-time against Mississippi Valley State, including 7-0 in games played in Evanston.
• Northwestern is now 11-1 all-time against members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
• Northwestern's 94 points are its most in a season-opener since a 97-78 win at Northern Illinois on Nov. 12, 2010.
• Vic Law accounted for Northwestern's first points of the season on a jumpshot. Friday marked the first regular-season game Law appeared in since March 12, 2015. He missed the entire 2015-16 season due to injury.
• Law scored a game-high and career-high 18 points in the contest. His previous career high was 17 vs. Penn State on Feb. 21, 2015.
• Northwestern's 50 rebounds as a team are their most since recording a season-high 53 against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 15, 2015.
• Isiah Brown and Barret Benson both made their collegiate debuts for the Wildcats. Brown posted 11 points and 3 assists while Benson recorded 4 points and 2 rebounds.
• Gavin Skelly recorded a career-high 4 blocked shots in the contest. His previous high was 3 blocks on three occasions as a freshman.
Sanjay Lumpkin stuffed the stat sheet, recording 11 points, eight rebounds, and a pair each of blocks and assists, and Bryant McIntosh added 11 points and four assists. Ten of the 11 Wildcats who played scored multiple baskets as Northwestern racked up 21 assists.
"For us to come out and play the way we did early, I was very impressed," said Northwestern head coach Chris Collins. "We have to share the ball to be good. We're not really a one-on-one team. We're at our best when we're moving the ball, cutting and screening, not knowing who's going to score the ball, and to me, that's a real fun way to play."
Law, returning to the lineup after missing last season through injury, showed no signs of rust as he sparked Northwestern's opening outburst. After scoring the Wildcats' first points of the season with a midrange jumper, Law fully announced his return by stealing an inbounds pass and slamming home a thunderous dunk in front of the student section.
"To get that steal and dunk, it was a big relief, and I feel like it just energized me," said Law.
That sparked a 12-2 run to give Northwestern 17-8 lead after five and a half minutes. Law continued his hot start, draining back-to-back threes, giving him 10 points and an assist after just six minutes.
"I thought he played with a smile on his face," said Collins. "Just to see him relax and having fun playing basketball, I knew he was going to have success when you saw a different kind of guy than you did last week."
Northwestern's defense stymied the Delta Devils' offense in the first half, holding them to just 38 percent shooting. Gavin Skelly anchored the #B1GCats with three blocks in the half, while Northwestern also was able to hold MVSU to just four offensive rebounds.
An 11-4 Northwestern run midway through the half gave the Wildcats a commanding 37-19 lead. Dererk Pardon showed his mettle in the middle, scoring at the rim on consecutive possessions to bring the student section to life. Lindsey knocked down a three just before the half to bring his game-leading total to 13, as Northwestern went into the half leading 46-28.
The Wildcat offense purred in the first half behind clinically efficient shot selection. Almost half of their points came from three, where they had 21 points on 41 percent shooting, while also adding 10 points in the paint and 11 from free throws.
Law again opened the second half just as hot as he had the first, finishing off an alley-oop from Isiah Brown, before adding a free throw and a three minutes later to put the #B1GCats ahead 57-35 four minutes into the half. Brown made his competitive debut, and notched three assists in four minutes, before scoring on consecutive possessions.
Northwestern's defense continued to keep MVSU at bay in the second, holding the Delta Devils to just 37 percent shooting for the night. Additionally, the Wildcats turned 12 turnovers into 17 points.
Brown scored nine of his 11 points after the intermission, and fellow freshman Barret Benson made his collegiate debut in the second half, scoring four points and adding two rebounds.
Northwestern returns to action on Monday, Nov. 14 hosting Eastern Washington in Welsh-Ryan Arena at 8 p.m.
BUY TICKETS HERE!
Northwestern Notes vs. Mississippi Valley State
Nov. 11, 2016
• Northwestern won its ninth straight season-opener. The Wildcats are 4-0 in season-openers under head coach Chris Collins.
• NU improves to 7-1 all-time against Mississippi Valley State, including 7-0 in games played in Evanston.
• Northwestern is now 11-1 all-time against members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
• Northwestern's 94 points are its most in a season-opener since a 97-78 win at Northern Illinois on Nov. 12, 2010.
• Vic Law accounted for Northwestern's first points of the season on a jumpshot. Friday marked the first regular-season game Law appeared in since March 12, 2015. He missed the entire 2015-16 season due to injury.
• Law scored a game-high and career-high 18 points in the contest. His previous career high was 17 vs. Penn State on Feb. 21, 2015.
• Northwestern's 50 rebounds as a team are their most since recording a season-high 53 against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 15, 2015.
• Isiah Brown and Barret Benson both made their collegiate debuts for the Wildcats. Brown posted 11 points and 3 assists while Benson recorded 4 points and 2 rebounds.
• Gavin Skelly recorded a career-high 4 blocked shots in the contest. His previous high was 3 blocks on three occasions as a freshman.
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