Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
18-8,9-6Big Ten
Indiana
14-11,6-8Big Ten
Langborg, 'Cats Win at Indiana, 76-72
2/18/2024 8:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Ryan Langborg poured in a game-high 26 points, leading a group of four Wildcats in double figures, as Northwestern withstood a late flurry from Indiana (14-11, 6-8 B1G) to close out a 76-72 victory this afternoon inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
In addition to Langborg's game-high scoring output, the Wildcats (18-8, 9-6 B1G) also received double-figure efforts from Boo Buie (14 points), Matthew Nicholson (14 points), and Nick Martinelli (13 points). Nicholson ripped down a career-best 16 rebounds en route to his first double-double, while Martinelli collected a career-high 13 caroms to also notch the first double-double of his collegiate career.
That's four in a row against the Hoosiers ?? pic.twitter.com/it33KiDW6F
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) February 18, 2024
How It Happened
Following a pair of Buie free throws that put Northwestern on the board and knotted the score at 2-2, Langborg drilled a mid-range jumper with two minutes gone to give the 'Cats a 4-2 lead before connecting from beyond the three-point arc to make it 7-4 Northwestern.
With Indiana nursing a 12-11 lead midway through the frame, a Nicholson dunk sparked a 6-0 spurt that sent the Wildcats in front, 17-12. Langborg dialed in again from distance shortly after to extend the gap to seven, 25-18. A pair of Martinelli makes at the line gave Northwestern its largest lead of the first half, 30-19, with 3:21 remaining. An Anthony Walker flush pulled the hosts within six, 32-26, ahead of a Langborg jumper with under a minute remaining that staked the Wildcats to a 34-26 at halftime.
After seeing Indiana cut the lead to 34-33 two minutes into the second half, a second-chance bucket from Nicholson that was followed by two Langborg makes from the charity stripe reestablsihed a five-point lead, 38-33. Indiana continued to hang around, again closing within one, 43-42, at the 12:52 mark.
With Northwestern sitting on 48-45 edge, a Langborg trey sparked a 15-2 surge, a run capped by eight straight points from Buie that saw the lead balloon to 63-47 with 6:17 remaining in regulation. The hosts refused to go away without a fight down the stretch, battling back within three, 75-72, inside the closing seconds. Indiana would get no closer, with a Brooks Barnhizer split at the free throw line with only five seconds remaining sealing Northwestern's fourth straight win over the Hoosiers.
Game Notes
» Langborg finished his afternoon with 26 points and six assists, tying career highs in both categories.
» Langborg finished 7-of-15 from the field, 4-of-7 from distance, and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
» Following his 14-point showing today, Buie now sits just five points shy of breaking John Shurna's career scoring record.
» Nicholson and Martinelli are the first pair of Wildcats to each grab 13-plus rebounds in the same game since at least 2010-11.
» Nicholson's 16 rebounds are the most in a game by a Wildcat since Dererk Pardon ripped down 18 boards against American on November 12, 2018.
» Northwestern finished with a 38-37 edge in the rebounding battle.
» The 'Cats are now 12-2 (.857) this season when securing more rebounds than their opponent.
» The Wildcats did an excellent job of taking care of the basketball, committing just three turnovers.
» Kel'el Ware paced Indiana with 22 points.
» Northwestern has won four straight over Indiana for the first time since 1932-33 and three straight in Bloomington for the first time since 1914-16.
Up Next
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday, Feb. 22 to entertain Michigan for an 8 p.m. CT tip-off that will air on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
