McIntosh Scores 28, NU Beats Wisconsin 70-65

1/12/2016 8:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: David Herder

EVANSTON, Ill. — Bryant McIntosh scored 28 points with five assists and four rebounds and Northwestern used a late surge to defeat Wisconsin 70-65 Tuesday evening at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

"It felt like an old-fashioned Big Ten game," Northwestern head coach Chris Collins said. "To win a game like that was big for our team. I know a lot of people don't think we can win without (three-point shooting), but tonight we proved we can."

McIntosh raced out of the gates with four consecutive drives resulting in six points and a hammering alley-oop assist to Joey van Zegeren. A full-court transition assist to Tre Demps had Wisconsin calling for a timeout with the Wildcats up 10-3.

The timeout wouldn't wane McIntosh's momentum, as he again raced into the paint, getting fouled before making both free-throws. Northwestern's offensive efficiency was matched by a stingy defense, limiting Wisconsin to just five points in their first 12 possessions.

But with van Zegeren and McIntosh on the bench, Wisconsin clawed back, taking a 18-16 lead. The roles had reversed, with Wildcats scoring just two of 10 attempts, before McIntosh found Gavin Skelly for a layup to tie, and Aaron Falzon buried a three to take a 21-18 lead with six minutes left in the half.

The teams traded baskets, before Sanjay Lumpkin spotted up from the corner, draining a three to go up 26-22 with 2:54 left. Van Zegeren anchored the post defense, stuffing a Wisconsin layup to keep Northwestern up two at the half, 26-24.

Wisconsin took the lead with a three 19 seconds into the second half, but successive Lumpkin and Demps layups restored the Wildcat lead at 30-27. While the Badgers again tied it, McIntosh stepped into and drilled a three from straight on with 18:19 on the clock.

Points started flowing on both ends of the court, with six consecutive scoring possessions between the teams, making it a 38-37 Northwestern lead with 15:14 remaining. McIntosh extended the lead to three with a jumper.

With the game tied at 42 with 10:38 remaining, Dererk Pardon was fouled under the basket, putting the Wildcats in the bonus, and giving the freshman big man two free throws. After making the first, Lumpkin pulled down a rebound on the second, leading into Falzon knocking down a long two for a 45-42 lead.

Two scores gave the Badgers a 47-46 lead with 7:43 left, when Lumpkin put down two from the line to reclaim a Northwestern lead. After a defensive stop, McIntosh drove into the left side of the lane, lofted the ball towards the rim, where van Zegeren thundered it home, igniting Welsh-Ryan Arena. On the next possession, McIntosh again found the lane, this time keeping it for himself, with his finger-roll giving Northwestern a 52-47 lead with 6:18 remaining, forcing Wisconsin to call timeout.

While Wisconsin came out of their timeout with a three, McIntosh responded in kind, restoring a five-point lead. Foul trouble continued to haunt the Badgers, as an off-ball foul put Falzon at the line with double bonus, and his two free throws expanding the lead to 57-50 with 4:45 to play.

Wisconsin put together three points in two possessions, when McIntosh threw a lob off the underside of the rim, boomeranging back into his hands for an easy layup. He then continued his trend of scoring out of Wisconsin timeouts, draining a long two to make it 61-53 with three minutes remaining.

Down 64-57 with 1:32 remaining, Wisconsin began to foul, and began to claw back, pulling within 68-63 with 22 seconds left. But with 12.6 seconds left, Skelly drew a charge, before Demps sank two free throws to seal the win for the Wildcats.

Northwestern is back in action at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Penn State at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.