EVANSTON, Ill. — Captains Vic Law and Dererk Pardon combined for 39 points and 24 rebounds as Northwestern defeated American, 63-51, on Monday night at the new Welsh-Ryan Arena.
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Law led the Wildcats from start to finish with 26 points — tied for his second-most in a collegiate contest. In his seventh-ever game with 20-plus points, Law also added six rebounds and an assist.
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Pardon registered the 11th double-double of his career and his second in a row to start the campaign. He grabbed 18 rebounds in the game, the most since he snagged a career-high 22 against Nebraska on Jan. 26, 2017. He also notched 13 points and four assists.
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Ryan Taylor joined Law and Pardon in double digits, tallying 10 points in the contest. All three Wildcats have started their seasons with double-digit points in back-to-back games.
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Law came out on fire for the Wildcats, scoring the team's first nine points while going three-for-three from the field to start the contest. On the Wildcats' first possession of the game, Law nailed a three and turned it into a four-point play after he was fouled on the shot. He finished the first half with 16 points.
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American went back-and-forth with the 'Cats for most of the first 20 minutes. First-year Ryan Greer tied the game at 22 points apiece when he recorded the first points of his collegiate career with a jumper. Taylor scored eight-straight points for the 'Cats down the stretch and Law added another bucket to help Northwestern close out the half on a 10-1 run over the final 3:51 and take a 38-31 lead into the half.
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The 'Cats locked in down the stretch of the second half. After American tied the game at 45-45 with 11:01 remaining, Northwestern held them scoreless for the next 5:30 and Pardon threw down a put-back dunk with 3:52 left to give Northwestern its largest lead of the game. The Wildcats never looked back and closed the game on an 18-6 run.
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Chicago's Big Ten Team continues its home stretch at the new Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday night as the 'Cats take the court against Binghamton at 7 p.m.
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Law led the Wildcats from start to finish with 26 points — tied for his second-most in a collegiate contest. In his seventh-ever game with 20-plus points, Law also added six rebounds and an assist.
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Pardon registered the 11th double-double of his career and his second in a row to start the campaign. He grabbed 18 rebounds in the game, the most since he snagged a career-high 22 against Nebraska on Jan. 26, 2017. He also notched 13 points and four assists.
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Ryan Taylor joined Law and Pardon in double digits, tallying 10 points in the contest. All three Wildcats have started their seasons with double-digit points in back-to-back games.
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Law came out on fire for the Wildcats, scoring the team's first nine points while going three-for-three from the field to start the contest. On the Wildcats' first possession of the game, Law nailed a three and turned it into a four-point play after he was fouled on the shot. He finished the first half with 16 points.
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American went back-and-forth with the 'Cats for most of the first 20 minutes. First-year Ryan Greer tied the game at 22 points apiece when he recorded the first points of his collegiate career with a jumper. Taylor scored eight-straight points for the 'Cats down the stretch and Law added another bucket to help Northwestern close out the half on a 10-1 run over the final 3:51 and take a 38-31 lead into the half.
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The 'Cats locked in down the stretch of the second half. After American tied the game at 45-45 with 11:01 remaining, Northwestern held them scoreless for the next 5:30 and Pardon threw down a put-back dunk with 3:52 left to give Northwestern its largest lead of the game. The Wildcats never looked back and closed the game on an 18-6 run.
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Chicago's Big Ten Team continues its home stretch at the new Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday night as the 'Cats take the court against Binghamton at 7 p.m.
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