Northwestern tops Brown 63-42
EVANSTON — Northwestern was without two of its starters on Sunday. The Wildcats responded by spreading the offense around.
Six players scored at least eight points apiece as the Wildcats ended nonconference play with a 63-42 victory over Brown.
Dave Sobolewski scored 14 points to lead Northwestern and Kale Abrahamson, Alex Marcotullio and Tre Demps each had nine points for the Wildcats (9-4) in their final game before Big Ten play begins.
“That just shows we’re running our offense well,” Sobolewski said about the scoring balance. “Without Drew (Crawford) and Reggie (Hearn), we’re going to need other guys to score. Having six guys over eight points is huge for us. If we get that consistent scoring from that many different guys, I think we’ll win a lot of games.
Sean McGonagill, a native of nearby Brookfield, Ill., scored 20 points to lead Brown (3-6), which has lost three straight and five of six. It was the Bears’ first game since Dec. 8, when they lost 84-57 at No. 22 Notre Dame.
Northwestern, which never trailed, made 13 of 24 from 3-point range, with Sobolewski and Marcotullio each hitting three.
Six Wildcat players made at least one 3-pointer. The Wildcats scored the first 15 points of the game, all on 3-pointers. The Wildcats had 21 assists and just 12 turnovers.
Hearn, leading Northwestern with 14.5 points per game, did not play because of an ankle injury suffered in Friday’s 70-68 loss to Stanford. Marcotullio started in Hearn’s place.
The Wildcats are already without Crawford, who will miss the rest of the season. Crawford, who was averaging 13.5 points per game, underwent surgery for a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Thursday.
The fire alarm in Welsh-Ryan Arena went off with about a minute to play. The game stopped briefly with 40.8 seconds remaining, and officials announced to the crowd that it was a false alarm though many fans were already leaving.
Northwestern shot 49 percent from the field while Brown made just 31 percent.
“Time off gave us a chance to recharge and work on some things. We showed some flashes, but not for 40 minutes,” Brown coach Mike Martin said.
Matt Sullivan, a native of nearby Wilmette, Ill., who leads the Bears in scoring with 16 points per game, scored two on Sunday. Only eight players suited up for Brown.
“They put (Jared) Swopshire on him, and his length might have bothered Matt a little bit,” Martin said. “Credit Northwestern for the job they did. Matt missed a couple open ones. He could never get in that rhythm, even when he got to the foul line.”
Northwestern’s biggest lead was 33 points with 8:32 remaining after a 17-0 run. Sobolewski, Swopshire and Marcotullio combined to hit four consecutive 3-pointers during the run. Sobolewski was fouled on his second 3 and made the foul shot for a 60-27 lead.
Northwestern coach Bill Carmody instructed Sobolewski, a sophomore guard, to show more variety in his offensive game.
“He’s a bulldog. He’s a hard guy, dropping his elbow and his shoulder,” Carmody said. “I told him he’s gotta be more like a French poodle, not quite that, so he’s shooting off the bounce. There’s space, shoot it, not just to catch and shoot, but off the bounce.
“Don’t just go in there and hope for the best. He hit some big shots out there today, and that’s really going to help his whole game.”
The Wildcats went 6 of 13 from beyond the arc in the first half to lead 28-18 at the break.
After Northwestern’s 15-0 start, Tucker Halpern hit a 3-pointer for Brown’s first points with 15:21 left in the half. Brown had four 3-pointers in the game, with McGonagill making the other three.
The Bears hadn’t played in two weeks due to final exams.
“Brown was a little rusty out there,” Carmody said. “That helped us also. You gotta recognize that. Exams are rough at Northwestern and Brown.”
The Wildcats, who are now 6-4 at home, entered the game shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.
Northwestern has 10 days off before opening Big Ten play at home against Michigan on Jan. 3. Brown will next play crosstown rival Providence on Friday.