Wildcats upend Hoosiers
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Northwestern's 3-point shooters trumped Indiana's comeback Saturday night.
Michael Thompson finished with 22 points and John Shurna added 19, leading Northwestern to a rare 70-64 victory at Indiana.
The Wildcats (16-10, 6-9 Big Ten) have won two in a row overall and have swept the Hoosiers twice in the last three seasons. But, at Assembly Hall, the Wildcats' personal house of horrors, they improved to 2-33 all-time.
For Indiana (12-15, 3-11), it was a frustrating night.
While Verdell Jones had 18 points and Jordan Hulls scored 14, they spent most of the final 30 minutes playing catch-up. Twice they tied the score in the final 10 minutes, but they never could take the lead.
The difference?
Three-point shooting. Northwestern, one of the nation's top 3-point teams, was 7 of 15 from beyond the arc in the first half and finished 11 of 24. Indiana, meanwhile, was just 4 of 13.
But it certainly wasn't easy.
Northwestern led by as much as 12 in the first half and still led 40-30 at halftime.
Indiana coach Tom Crean was so upset with the Hoosiers' defensive effort that he took off his tie at the half and left it in the locker room.
Apparently, the Hoosiers got the message.
Indiana opened the second half with Christian Watford's 3-pointer, then went on an 8-0 run to close to within 44-43 with 13:26 left. Shurna ended that run with his second 3 of the game, ending Northwestern's 5:22 scoring drought, to give the Wildcats a 47-43 lead.
Hulls answered that with a 3 that got the Hoosiers within one and they finally tied the score at 52 when Derek Elston posted up for a dunk with 8:20 left.
Shurna came back with another 3.
The Hoosiers tied it again at 57 on Jones' 3, but Thompson made two free throws and Drew Crawford hit a 3 to make it 62-57 with 5:50 left.
Indiana closed to 67-64 on Hulls' 3-pointer with 1:12 left, but the Hoosiers couldn't score again and Northwestern closed it out by making 3 of 4 free throws.
Thompson went over the 1,500 career point mark Saturday. He now has 1,520.