Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Northwestern Secures 12th Big Ten Win with 90-66 Rout of Minnesota
3/9/2024 10:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern closed out the regular season in style with a 90-66 victory over Minnesota inside Welsh-Ryan Arena on Senior Night. Playing his final game in Evanston, Boo Buie tied for the team lead by scoring 23 points and dishing out six assists. NU shot 58.6% (34-for-58) from the field, 55.6% (10-for-18) from three-point range, and committed just one turnover en route to the victory. With the win, the Wildcats finished league play with a 12-8 record for the second season in a row, and will finish at least tied for third in the league standings.
No Place Like Home ?? pic.twitter.com/E79UT3zslr
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 10, 2024
The Wildcats (21-10, 12-8 BTN) had four players score in double figures, led by Buie and Brooks Barnhizer, who had 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Ryan Langborg chipped in as well with 17 points, a career-high six assists and two steals.
Northwestern did an excellent job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 23 assists while turning the ball over just one time. Northwestern's one turnover marks its fewest in a game since at least 2010-11.
How It Happened
Northwestern jumped out to an 11-2 run and never trailed for the remainder of the game. The Wildcats took a 53-41 lead into halftime. NU's 53 points are its most in a first half since December 11, 2017, against Chicago State (55).
The Wildcats never led by fewer than 12 in the second half en route to the 90-66 victory. NU held Minnesota (18-13, 9-11 B1G) to 17% (1-for-6) from beyond the arc in the second half. Buie scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half. Northwestern's 90 points were the most it has scored in a regulation conference game since defeating Rutgers 98-59 on Feb. 27, 2016.
Game Notes
» Northwestern scored a season-high 53 points in the first half. It marked the most by the 'Cats in a first half since Dec. 11, 2017 (55, vs. Chicago State).
» The most first half points scored by Northwestern against a Big Ten opponent in at least the last 20 years.
» The Wildcats' last 50-point first half came on Dec. 5, 2020, vs. Chicago State (51).
» In its last game vs. Michigan State, Northwestern scored 49 total points.
» Northwestern shot a blistering 70 percent (21-of-30) from the field, including going 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) from deep.
» The Wildcats knocked down five field goals in a row (by four different players) in a 2:15 span early in the first quarter, going on a 13-2 run to take a 15-4 lead.
» Later in the first half, the 'Cats knocked down nine straight field goals over a 7:18 span to extend their lead to 48-34.
» Blake Preston scored a season-high nine points.
» Northwestern committed zero turnovers in the first half.
» Five different Wildcats had 3+ made field goals just in the first half (Barnhizer, Martinelli, Preston, Buie, Langborg).
» Northwestern won its 15th home game of the season, tied with the 2009-10 team for the most home wins in a single-season in school history.
Northwestern will travel to Minnesota for the Big Ten Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis. Game information is to be determined. Stay tuned to @NUMensBball on Twitter and Instagram and nusports.com for more information.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
