EVANSTON—A loud sellout crowd saw Northwestern avenge a Dec 30 loss with some clutch shooting as the Wildcats edged Illinois 73-68 It was a game of significant runs. The Cats started the game with 13-2 run,but just when it looked like an NU romp,the Fighting Illini answered with a 20-2 explosion of their own,taking their first lead on a D.J.Richardson jumper. Wildcat guard Juice Thompson got into quick foul trouble,and that’s where the Illini took advantage.and led at the half 39-36. Illinois won in overtime over NU on December 30 in Champaign. Northwestern only shot 40% in the first half while the Illini nailed 14-23 for 61%. The Wildcats were still cold early in the second half and the Illini took their largest lead of eight points with 14:16 left on a layup by Richardson,who later hit a jumper to make it 51-44 with 10;10 to play and neither team scored for the next three minutes. Then,NU started it’s rally when John Shurna dunked off a feed from Luka Mirkovic. Eventually, the Illinois lead was 52-50. At that point,Jeremy Nash nailed a long three point basket to give the Cats a lead they would keep. Thompson and Shurna also contributed three pointers and the Wildcats took a 61-54 lead with 2:20 to play. NU(14-5, 3-4) had to then come up big from the free throw line,and they did.Nash led all scored a game high 22,Shurna added 19 and Drew Crawford add another 15.
NOTES—The sellout was 8117….Richardson led the Illini with 17…..Nash and Shurna each hit on 9 of their 10 freethrows…..As the final seconds ticked away,the ‘Welsh-Ryan Rowdies’ chanted “JUST LIKE FOOTBALL!”
LES