Northwestern
5-1,0-0Big Ten
Northern Illinois
5-2,0-0MAC
Five 'Cats Score in Double Figures as Northwestern Rallies past NIU 89-67
11/27/2023 8:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern outscored NIU 48-25 in the second half en route to an 89-67 win on Monday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The 'Cats move to 5-1 for the third consecutive season.
The Wildcats (5-1) had five players score in double figures, led by Boo Buie, who had 23 points and seven assists. Matthew Nicholson added 15 points, six rebounds and six assists and Ty Berry helped out with 14 points and a career-high five steals.
Northwestern shot 60.7% from the field, its highest field goal percentage since shooting 61.4% on Nov. 12, 2021 in a 95-60 win over High Point.
The 'Cats outrebounded NIU 33-25, moving to 4-0 on the season when outrebounding their opponent.
How It Happened4-0 at Home ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 28, 2023
23 points for @booboo_buie ?? pic.twitter.com/t587tLSCtS
Nicholson posted seven of NU's first nine points and NU jumped out to a 16-11 advantage. The Wildcats went on a 6-0 run with 11:51 left in the first half to increase its lead to 22-11. NIU responded to take a 42-41 lead going into the half.
Buie scored 10 points in the first four minutes of the second half, including two threes to cap off a 9-0 run as Northwestern took a 57-48 lead with 16:09 remaining. The Wildcats tallied 48 second half points, their most in a half this season, en route to an 89-67 victory.
Game Notes
» Northwestern moves to 5-1 for the fourth consecutive season.» NU turned the ball over just seven times, matching its season-low.
» The Wildcats outrebounded NIU 33-25, moving to 4-0 when outrebounding their opponent.
» Northwestern had five players score in double figures for the first time since Dec. 20, 2022 against UIC.
» NU moves to 2-0 when trailing at the half.
» Northwestern improved to 11-2 all-time against NIU, and is 7-0 in Evanston.
» Buie led the Wildcats with 23 points in his 100th career start.
» With a season-high four three-pointers made, Buie moved into a tie for fifth place on Northwestern's career 3-pointers with 212 (Vedran Vukusic, 2002-06).
» Nicholson tallied seven of NU's first nine points and finished with a season-high 15 points, a career-high six assists and six rebounds.
» He is the first Northwestern center to post 15 points, six assists and six rebounds since Luka Mirkovic since Dec. 18, 2011 against Eastern Illinois (18 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists).
» Nick Martinelli posted a career-high 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, with a team-high nine points in the first half.
» Berry recorded 14 points and a career-high five steals.
Northwestern opens Big Ten play on Friday, Dec. 1 in a marquee matchup with No. 1 Purdue. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT on BTN inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
