'Cats Claim Largest Win in Program History, Top Chicago State 96-31

12/11/2017 8:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Northwestern holds Cougars to eight first-half points

ROSEMONT, Ill. — In its first game in over a week, Northwestern (6-4, 1-1 Big Ten) showed no signs of rust, cruising to its largest margin of victory in program history with a 96-31 win over Chicago State at Allstate Arena on Monday night.

The Wildcats were firing on all cylinders both offensively and defensively as they finished with a team-high in points on the season, while holding the Cougars the fewest points scored in a game by an NU opponent since Nov. 23, 2012 (TCU, 31). The 65-point winning margin for the #B1GCats also marked the largest winning margin in program history, breaking a 73-year record.

Five Wildcats finished the game scoring in double figures. Vic Law led all players with 18 points, including a 3-of-4 mark behind the arc, while Aaron Falzon finished with 15 points and four threes of his own. Dererk Pardon added 13 points along with a game-high eight rebounds, while Scottie Lindsey had 12 points and first-year Anthony Gaines finished with a career-high 11 points. Bryant McIntosh finished just short of double figures, scoring nine points and added a game-high seven assists on the night.

Northwestern shot 49.1-percent from the field on 27-of-55 shooting, including 40.0-percent (12-of-30) from 3-point territory. On the other end, the 'Cats held the Cougars to 20.0 percent shooting on the night (8-of-40), including 1-of-6 from deep, all of which were season lows for an NU opponent this season.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early start, scoring the first 15 points of the game.

The #B1GCats held Chicago State scoreless for the first 4:40 of the game. Later on in the half, they held the Cougars scoreless for 6:40 as the 'Cats mounted a 22-0 run to extend their lead to 44-5. Northwestern held Chicago State without a field goal for the final 12:08 of the half and went into the locker room with 55-8 lead.

All-in-all, the Wildcats' first half was one of the best performances turned in by any team in the country this season. The 47-point halftime deficit is the largest in Division I basketball on the year, while the eight points scored by Chicago State is tied for fewest points scored by any Division I team in a half this season. The 55 points scored by NU marked the most points the Wildcats have scored in a half since they scored the same amount against Sacred Heart in 2015.

Northwestern shot a blistering 55.2 percent (16-29) from the field in the first half while holding Chicago State to 10.5 percent shooting (2-19) in the opening half. The Wildcats held the Cougars without a 3-pointer in the half, while converting on 9-of-16 of their own looks from behind the arc.

Four players on Northwestern outscored Chicago State in the first half, with Lindsey and Falzon leading the way with 12 points apiece. Lindsey shot 4-of-6 from the field (3-of-5 from 3-point range) and added three assists and two rebounds, while Falzon went 4-of-5 from the field (3-of-4 from deep). Law also finished the half in double figures as he added 10 points, while Pardon chipped in with nine points and a team-high five rebounds.

Northwestern did not let up as it outscored the Cougars, 41-23, in the second half. Gaines finished with eight points in the half, while Law also added eight of his own despite playing limited minutes in the half. With the win, Northwestern has still never lost to Chicago State, moving to 12-0 all-time against the Cougars.

Chicago's Big Ten team will be back in action this Thursday, Dec. 14 when it hosts Valparaiso at Allstate Arena. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the action being televised on BTN. Tickets are available online at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.

Northwestern Notes vs. Chicago State – Dec. 11, 2017
• Northwestern improves to 12-0 all-time against Chicago State. The Wildcats have hosted 11 of the matchups.
• The eight points by Chicago State in the first half are the fewest by an NU opponent in the shot clock era. The NCAA record for fewest points in a half in the shot clock era is four by Northern Illinois against Eastern Michigan Jan. 26, 2013.
• The previous low for points in a half by a Northwestern opponent under head coach Chris Collins was 12 by Western Michigan in the first half Dec. 7, 2013. The last time an NU opponent had 10 or fewer points in a half was Dec. 27, 2004 when Delaware State had 10 in the first half.
• The 65-point margin of victory is the largest ever by Northwestern. The previous best was 57 in a 77-20 win over University of Chicago Jan. 14, 1944.
• Chicago State's Fred Sims Jr. scored 22 points and hit seven 3-pointers in last year's narrow four-point win by Northwestern over the Cougars. Sims entered Monday's game leading the team with an average of 16.1 points per game by was held scoreless on Monday, including going 0-for-9 from the field.
• First-year guard Anthony Gaines scored a season- and career-high 11 points in the game. His previous best was six against Sacred Heart Nov. 24.
• Northwestern forced a season-high 25 turnovers by Chicago State. The previous season high was 23 vs. Sacred Heart Nov. 24. It's the most turnovers by an NU opponent since Howard had 25 on Dec. 20, 2007.
• The Wildcats' 37 free throw attempts are their most since shooting 37 vs. Elon Nov. 22, 2014.
• Northwestern's 96 points are a season high and the most by the Wildcats since a 98-59 win over Rutgers Feb. 27, 2016.
• Chicago State's 31 points are just one more than the low by a Northwestern opponent since 1944. Oakland scored 30 points in a 68-30 loss to NU Nov. 21, 1998. Northwestern also held TCU to 31 points Nov. 23, 2012 and SIU Edwardsville to 31 Dec. 1, 1982.
• Northwestern had five players score in double figures for the second time this season. The Wildcats also had five individuals with 10 or more points vs. Saint Peter's Nov. 13.
• Aaron Falzon scored a season-high 15 points, including hitting four 3-pointers. His career high is 20 points on two occasions.
• Northwestern announced prior to the game that redshirt first-year forward Rapolas Ivanauskas will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.