Northwestern
19-7,10-5Big Ten
#14 Indiana
18-8,9-6Big Ten
Buie's Heroics Lift Northwestern Over No. 14 Indiana, 64-62
2/15/2023 10:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
'Cats knock off fourth ranked opponent in 2022-23 in thrilling fashion
EVANSTON, Ill. - Boo Buie's floater in the closing seconds of regulation saw Northwestern hold off a furious rally from No. 14 Indiana as the Wildcats picked up a thrilling 64-62 victory on Wednesday evening inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The win is Northwestern's fourth over a ranked opponent in 2022-23, the most in a single season in program history.
HOW 'BOUT THEM CATS?!?
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) February 16, 2023
For the first time ever, Northwestern has won four games against ranked opponents. pic.twitter.com/YEEQIVN7qa
Buie led the 'Cats (19-7, 10-5 B1G), who now sit in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten Conference standings, with 21 points in addition to six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Chase Audige added 14 points, while Robbie Beran rounded out a trio of Wildcats to score in double figures with 12 points.
Northwestern's tenacious defense was again on full display before another raucous home crowd, as the Wildcats forced 13 Hoosier turnovers. Ty Berry closed the night with a pair of steals.
How It Happened
With Indiana holding on to a slim 12-11 lead, Northwestern stepped on the gas. Back-to-back Audige treys sparked a 14-0 Wildcat run that vaulted the upset-minded hosts in front, 25-12, with 7:34 remaining in the first half. The 'Cats continued to build on that advantage as the half wore on, with a pair of Brooks Barnhizer makes at the free throw line staking Northwestern to its largest lead of the night, 39-18, as Wildcats ultimately raced into the halftime locker room with a 39-20 advantage.
Following another Audige trey that reestablished a 20-point margin, 42-22, in the opening seconds of the second stanza, Indiana began to chip away. Two Trayce Jackson-Davis free throws at the 12:42 mark trimmed the gap back into single digits, 47-38. After seeing the Hoosiers pull within six, 53-47, Berry connected on a three that stretched the lead back out to nine, 56-47, with 7:47 remaining.
With just 44 seconds remaining, Buie converted in the paint to put the 'Cats up four, 62-58. Indiana refused to go away quietly, knotting the game up at 62-62 on another Jackson-Davis bucket with only 30 seconds remaining that set the stage for an unforgettable ending.
With time winding down, Buie drove inside, muscling up a floater that found the bottom of the net to put Northwestern up two, 64-62. A desperation heave from Jalen Hood-Schifino rattled off the rim at the other end, setting off a wild celebration as Northwestern completed only its fifth regular season sweep of the Hoosiers since 1950.
Game Notes
» Buie finished with a team-best 21 points, his 19th consecutive game in double figures.
» Audige provided an early spark, scoring 11 of the 'Cats first 17 points en route to closing his night with 14 points.
» Beran's 12-point effort marked his first game in double figures since scoring 14 points in a win over Minnesota back on January 28.
» Northwestern took care of the basketball, committing just four turnovers, a mark tied for its season low.
Northwestern looks to extend its win streak to five games and complete a perfect homestand on Sunday, February 19 when it welcomes Iowa to Welsh-Ryan Arena in a 5:30 p.m. matchup that will be televised on Big Ten Network.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
