Northwestern University Athletics
Welsh-Ryan Arena Top Moments Countdown
1/4/2017 7:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Since its last major renovation in 1983, Welsh-Ryan Arena has seen a plethora of memorable moments. As the facility gets set to close down for a season for another facelift following the 2016-17 campaign, we're counting down the top 10 Northwestern men's basketball moments over the last 33 seasons as voted on by fans.
No. 10
Northwestern 69, DePaul 68 — March 16, 1994
Our countdown gets underway with Northewestern's first postseason home game in school history. In front of a jam-packed crowd, the Wildcats take down crosstown foe DePaul in the opening round of the NIT. Cedric Neloms leads Northwestern with 24 points while Patrick Baldwin adds 21 to help the Wildcats advance.
No. 9
Northwestern 72, Ohio State 69 — February 18, 2009
The Wildcats rally back from a 12-point second-half deficit. With the game tied in the closing seconds, Juice Thompson finds John Shurna who hits the game-winning 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds remaining.
No. 8
Northwestern 72, No. 6 Purdue 64 — January 16, 2010
Northwestern defeats its highest-ranked opponent in 31 years, taking down the sixth-ranked Boilermakers. Juice Thompson leads the way with 20 points while Luka Mirkovic posts 16 points and 10 rebounds.
No. 7
Northwestern 63, No. 17 Indiana 51 — February 18, 1984
John Peterson, who had 20 points all season entering the game, recorded a double-double to help the 'Cats topple the Hoosiers and knock Indiana out of first place in the Big Ten standings.
No. 6
Northwestern 98, Rutgers 59 — February 27, 2016
Northwestern records its largest margin of victory in a Big Ten game in 72 years while setting a school record with 33 assists. Bryant McIntosh led NU with 13 of those assists; Tre Demps scored 24 points.
No. 5
Northwestern 75, No. 24 Iowa 74 (OT) — January 26, 2005
Facing a 12-point deficit with under three minutes to play, Northwestern came all the way back to force overtime. In the extra period, Michael Jenkins nailed a corner three that bounced high in the air before falling in as time expired to give the #B1GCats a 75-74 victory.
No. 4
Northwestern 66, Indiana 64 — January 11, 1988
In a contest nationally televised on ESPN, Northwestern takes down the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Jeff Grose scored 18 points and NU went 21-for-21 from the free throw line to earn the victory.
No. 3
Northwestern 97, Michigan 93 (OT) — March 12, 1994
Needing a win to become postseason eligible, Northwestern defeated the Fab Five in overtime in the regular-season finale. The Wildcats win denied the Wolverines the outright Big Ten title.
No. 2
Northwestern 81, Michigan State 74 — January 14, 2012
Northwestern snaps Michigan State's 15-game winning streak as John Shurna scores a game-high 22 points and Drew Crawford adds 20 for the Wildcats.
No. 1B
Northwestern 82, Michigan 78 — March 3, 2015
Behind late heroics from Tre Demps, Northwestern rallies from a 12-point deficit for a senior day win.
No. 1A -- WRITE IN VOTE!
Northwestern 67, Michigan 65 — March 1, 2017
It will be forever known as "The Play" in Northwestern Men's Basketball annals. Nathan Taphorn inbounded the ball the length of the court with 1.7 seconds left in regulation, and Dererk Pardon converted as time expired to give NU a dramatic victory that all but locked up the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
No. 10
Northwestern 69, DePaul 68 — March 16, 1994
Our countdown gets underway with Northewestern's first postseason home game in school history. In front of a jam-packed crowd, the Wildcats take down crosstown foe DePaul in the opening round of the NIT. Cedric Neloms leads Northwestern with 24 points while Patrick Baldwin adds 21 to help the Wildcats advance.
No. 9
Northwestern 72, Ohio State 69 — February 18, 2009
The Wildcats rally back from a 12-point second-half deficit. With the game tied in the closing seconds, Juice Thompson finds John Shurna who hits the game-winning 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds remaining.
No. 8
Northwestern 72, No. 6 Purdue 64 — January 16, 2010
Northwestern defeats its highest-ranked opponent in 31 years, taking down the sixth-ranked Boilermakers. Juice Thompson leads the way with 20 points while Luka Mirkovic posts 16 points and 10 rebounds.
No. 7
Northwestern 63, No. 17 Indiana 51 — February 18, 1984
John Peterson, who had 20 points all season entering the game, recorded a double-double to help the 'Cats topple the Hoosiers and knock Indiana out of first place in the Big Ten standings.
No. 6
Northwestern 98, Rutgers 59 — February 27, 2016
Northwestern records its largest margin of victory in a Big Ten game in 72 years while setting a school record with 33 assists. Bryant McIntosh led NU with 13 of those assists; Tre Demps scored 24 points.
No. 5
Northwestern 75, No. 24 Iowa 74 (OT) — January 26, 2005
Facing a 12-point deficit with under three minutes to play, Northwestern came all the way back to force overtime. In the extra period, Michael Jenkins nailed a corner three that bounced high in the air before falling in as time expired to give the #B1GCats a 75-74 victory.
No. 4
Northwestern 66, Indiana 64 — January 11, 1988
In a contest nationally televised on ESPN, Northwestern takes down the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Jeff Grose scored 18 points and NU went 21-for-21 from the free throw line to earn the victory.
No. 3
Northwestern 97, Michigan 93 (OT) — March 12, 1994
Needing a win to become postseason eligible, Northwestern defeated the Fab Five in overtime in the regular-season finale. The Wildcats win denied the Wolverines the outright Big Ten title.
No. 2
Northwestern 81, Michigan State 74 — January 14, 2012
Northwestern snaps Michigan State's 15-game winning streak as John Shurna scores a game-high 22 points and Drew Crawford adds 20 for the Wildcats.
No. 1B
Northwestern 82, Michigan 78 — March 3, 2015
Behind late heroics from Tre Demps, Northwestern rallies from a 12-point deficit for a senior day win.
No. 1A -- WRITE IN VOTE!
Northwestern 67, Michigan 65 — March 1, 2017
It will be forever known as "The Play" in Northwestern Men's Basketball annals. Nathan Taphorn inbounded the ball the length of the court with 1.7 seconds left in regulation, and Dererk Pardon converted as time expired to give NU a dramatic victory that all but locked up the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
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