EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball (9-4, 0-2 Big Ten) ended the year with a victory, topping the Columbia Lions (3-9, 0-0 Ivy League) on Sunday afternoon at the new Welsh-Ryan Arena.
 
For the third time in the last four games, senior forward Vic Law scored 20-plus points, finishing with 21 — including three three-pointers. He also added five rebounds and five assists.
 
Graduate guard Ryan Taylor matched Law's point output, making five-of-seven three-pointers while playing a team-high 38 minutes. Taylor logged his 500th field goal of his career en route to his season-high tying 21 points.
 
Senior center Dererk Pardon recorded his 134th career block in the contest, which moved him into sole possession of third in Northwestern history. He finished with 12 boards — his fifth time this season with double-digit rebounds.
 
The Wildcats were effective from the charity stripe, knocking down 19-of-24 from the free throw line. NU also shot well from beyond the arc, making 10 three-pointers compared to Columbia's five.
 
The contest started as a back-and-forth affair, though the Wildcats started to pull away at the end of the first half, with NU holding an eight-point advantage heading into the break.
 
Northwestern outscored Columbia, 20-11, in the first 10 minutes of play of the second half and proceeded to shoot effectively to secure their ninth win of the season.
 
The Wildcats are back in action on January 2 as the 'Cats battle No. 8 Michigan State in East Lansing.
 

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