Challenge Met: NU Tops Wake Forest in ACC/B1G Showdown

11/28/2016 9:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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McIntosh tallies 19 of his 23 points in the second half to lead Wildcats

By: Braden Pomerantz

EVANSTON, Ill. -- In front of a raucous Welsh-Ryan Arena crowd Monday night, junior Bryant McIntosh poured in 19 second-half points to lead a surging Northwestern past Wake Forest, 65-58, in the ACC/B1G Challenge.

After scoring only four points in the first half, McIntosh took charge in the final 20 minutes, scoring 19 points down the stretch. He finished with a team-high 23 points for the game. Scottie Lindsey (12), Gavin Skelly (11) and Sanjay Lumpkin (10) all contributed by scoring in double figures.

The 'Cats relied on a staunch defensive effort led by Lumpkin, who had seven rebounds, three steals, one block, and a drawn charge. Northwestern had nine steals and six blocks as a team. It held the Demon Deacons to just 31.1 percent shooting for the game.

The Wildcats (5-2) got off to a slow start, and the Demon Deacons (5-2) took advantage, opening the game on a 12-5 run. Northwestern responded with an 11-2 run ignited by a Vic Law three, taking a 16-14 lead at the 12-minute mark.

It was Wake Forest's turn to strike again and it responded with a 10-0 run, retaking the lead 24-16. A Skelly three-pointer capped off a Northwestern 10-0 run to answer, putting NU back on top 26-24. The teams traded baskets in the final five minutes, and the Demon Deacons entered the half with a 31-30 lead.

The 'Cats only shot 33.3 percent from the floor in the first half, but the Demon Deacons weren't much better, shooting just 35.7 percent. Wake Forest shot 9-9 from the free-throw line, however, while Northwestern was only 2-5.

The teams went back and forth in the second half, but McIntosh started to take charge. At the 12-minute mark he went on a 6-0 run of his own, putting in three consecutive layups. That put the 'Cats up 44-42 with 11 minutes to go.

The game was tied at 53 with 3:25 left when McIntosh took over. He added eight more points in that final stretch, including a corner three as the shot clock expired to give the Wildcats a 61-55 lead with just one minute left. Lumpkin tacked on two breakaway layups in the final 20 seconds, capping off the victory.

Northwestern made 50 percent of its shots in the second half, while holding Wake Forest to 27.3 percent. Despite getting out-rebounded by 11, the 'Cats were able to make up for it by committing just 10 turnovers, compared to 19 from the Demon Deacons.

Northwestern returns to action at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, when it takes on DePaul at Welsh-Ryan Arena. BUY TICKETS HERE!

Northwestern Notes vs. Wake Forest
Nov. 28, 2016
• This was the first meeting between Northwestern and Wake Forest.
• Northwestern is now 8-10 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, including 5-4 in home games in the Challenge.
• Junior guard Bryant McIntosh scored a game-high 23 points, including 19 in the second half. It is his second 20-point game of the season and the ninth of his career.
• One game after scoring a career-high 15 points, junior forward Gavin Skelly tallied 11 points. It is his second double-figure scoring game of the season and the third of his career.
• Wake Forest came into the game shooting 47.9 percent from the field this season, but the Wildcats held the Demon Deacons to 31.1 percent shooting Monday. It's the lowest field goal percentage by an NU opponent since Mississsippi Valley State shot 29.0 percent on Dec. 15, 2015.
• Northwestern forced a season-high 19 turnovers. It's the highest total by an NU opponent since Illinois State had 20 on Nov. 24, 2012.
• The Wildcats came into the game leading the Big Ten with a 1.54 assist-to-turnover ratio and they boosted that mark Monday by dishing out 18 assists while committing only 10 turnovers.
• Monday's game was Northwestern's fourth in five games against a major-conference opponent. The Wildcats face another major-conference foe on Saturday when they host DePaul.