EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern (10-5) used a hard-charging second half to dispatch Illinois (4-11), 68-66, on Sunday afternoon at the new Welsh-Ryan Arena.
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Redshirt junior A.J. Turner made the game-winning basket, a second-chance three-pointer with 11 seconds left. He had 12 points — including six-of-eight from the line — and finished with a plus/minus of +18.
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NU spread the ball well in the match-up as five players scored in double-figures for the first time this season. Senior forward Vic Law finished with a double-double, compiling 13 points and 10 rebounds.
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The Wildcats came out of the gate strong to open the contest, opening up a 20-12 lead over the Fighting Illini. Illinois, however, used a late run to take a six-point halftime lead over Northwestern.
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Chicago's Big Ten Team outscored the Fighting Illini, 43-35, in the second stanza to secure NU's eighth home victory this season.
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The Wildcats scored nearly half of their second half points from beyond the arc, shooting a blistering 58 percent (seven-of-12) from three-point range.
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NU limited Illinois to zero three pointers in the game on 11 attempts, a continuation of Northwestern's strong three-point defense this season. The 'Cats came into the game holding their opposition to 28.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
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That marked the first time Northwestern has limited an opponent to zero three-point field goals in the Chris Collins era. The last time it happened for NU was November 23, 2012 against TCU.
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Northwestern also displayed their remarkably stingy defense; in the last 10 games, Wildcat opponents have scored under their scoring average coming into the game in regulation. Illinois came into the contest averaging 73.9 points per game.
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NU will play their second-straight game at home on Wednesday against Iowa. Tip is set for 8 p.m. CT.
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Redshirt junior A.J. Turner made the game-winning basket, a second-chance three-pointer with 11 seconds left. He had 12 points — including six-of-eight from the line — and finished with a plus/minus of +18.
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NU spread the ball well in the match-up as five players scored in double-figures for the first time this season. Senior forward Vic Law finished with a double-double, compiling 13 points and 10 rebounds.
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The Wildcats came out of the gate strong to open the contest, opening up a 20-12 lead over the Fighting Illini. Illinois, however, used a late run to take a six-point halftime lead over Northwestern.
Â
Chicago's Big Ten Team outscored the Fighting Illini, 43-35, in the second stanza to secure NU's eighth home victory this season.
Â
The Wildcats scored nearly half of their second half points from beyond the arc, shooting a blistering 58 percent (seven-of-12) from three-point range.
Â
NU limited Illinois to zero three pointers in the game on 11 attempts, a continuation of Northwestern's strong three-point defense this season. The 'Cats came into the game holding their opposition to 28.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Â
That marked the first time Northwestern has limited an opponent to zero three-point field goals in the Chris Collins era. The last time it happened for NU was November 23, 2012 against TCU.
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Northwestern also displayed their remarkably stingy defense; in the last 10 games, Wildcat opponents have scored under their scoring average coming into the game in regulation. Illinois came into the contest averaging 73.9 points per game.
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NU will play their second-straight game at home on Wednesday against Iowa. Tip is set for 8 p.m. CT.
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