Northwestern Tops In-State Rival Illinois

2/13/2016 6:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Demps and Lindsey score 18 points apiece

EVANSTON, Ill. — Senior Tre Demps scored 12 of his game high 18 points in a four-possession span, while sophomore Scottie Lindsey also tallied 18 as Northwestern held off Illinois, 58-56, to earn the win over its in-state foe.

Northwestern (17-9, 5-8 B1G) shot 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from the field and 7-for-15 (46.7 percent) from behind the arc in the second half to help overcome its halftime deficit to Illinois (11-14, 3-9 B1G) at Welsh-Ryan Arena. In addition to Lindsey and Demps, Alex Olah scored in double figures (10 points) to go along with his seven rebounds.

"I thought both teams battled like crazy," said head coach Chris Collins. "It was one of those games where both teams weren't giving an inch. Both teams started very defensively, a little anxious offensively, but in the second half it was back and forth, with a hard time stopping each other."

"It was just good to get a win."

Sophomore Bryant McIntosh started the game off with a knifing floater, before the game quickly turned into a defensive battle. Both teams played locked-down defense, only allowing three-made baskets in the first five minutes, and a total of just eight through 10 minutes.

With 9:13 to play in the opening half, Lindsey knocked down Northwestern's first 3-pointer of the game, pulling the Wildcats within three, 14-11. After a Demps free throw, Lindsey drained another 3-point field goal, putting the Wildcats up, 19-16. Illinois put together a run of its own, but an Olah layup halved the deficit, pulling Northwestern within two at 23-21 at the half.

The Wildcats dominated the lane in the first half, scoring 14 points in paint, compared to just four from Illinois.

Sanjay Lumpkin got the Wildcats off the starting blocks in the second half with a 3-pointer to retake the lead, 24-23. The teams traded swipes before Demps tied it up with his first field goal of the game at the 16:45 mark.

With 14 minutes remaining, Lindsey unleashed a slam and drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game at 35-35. A Lindsey 3-pointer on the next possession gave the 'Cats the lead, 38-35.

With Northwestern down two, 45-43, Demps took over the game. He drained his first 3-pointer of the night, and made it a pair of free throws, forcing Illinois to call time out. But the break couldn't stop his momentum, as he sunk two more, making it 12 points in four possessions and giving the Wildcats a 54-49 lead with five minutes remaining.

With a minute left, Lindsey swatted a shot to Demps, who went coast to coast to make it a five-point game, 58-53, with a minute left. Illinois pulled within two, and had an in-bounds play from beneath its own basket with just over two seconds remaining. Lumpkin played airtight defense, forcing an errant pass as time expired, allowing the #B1GCats to claim the victory.

Northwestern Notes vs. Illinois – Feb. 13, 2016
• Northwestern and Illinois now have split their last 12 meetings going back to the 2009-10 season.
• This was the lone regular-season meeting between the teams.
• Northwestern held Illinois' Malcolm Hill to 7 points in the contest. It is the first time in 30 games and the first time this season that Hill has not scored in double figures. He entered the game ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring at 18.9 points per contest.
• Sophomore guard Bryant McIntosh dished out a game-high 9 assists to raise his Northwestern single-season record total to 174. McIntosh entered the game ranked second in the Big Ten and 10^th in the nation with an average of 6.6 assists per game. It is the 12^th time this season that he has handed out at least 8 assists in a game.
• Sophomore guard Scottie Lindsey scored 18 points off the bench. It is the sixth time this season that he has scored in double figures and the third time in the last four games. The point total is the second highest of his career, trailing only a 26-point performance vs. New Orleans Nov. 28.
• Tre Demps scored 18 points in the game, moving him within four points of Shon Morris for 11^th place on Northwestern's career scoring list. Demps currently has 1,403 career points.
• Northwestern hit nine 3-pointers in the contest. The Wildcats have hit at least nine triples in each of their last four games.
• After committing 10 turnovers in the first half, Northwestern turned the ball over only two times in the second half.