{"id":53773,"date":"2017-12-02T07:35:25","date_gmt":"2017-12-02T07:35:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=53773"},"modified":"2017-12-02T07:35:25","modified_gmt":"2017-12-02T07:35:25","slug":"northwestern-outlasts-illinois-in-overtime-72-68","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/northwestern-outlasts-illinois-in-overtime-72-68.html","title":{"rendered":"Northwestern outlasts Illinois in overtime, 72-68"},"content":{"rendered":"

Northwestern outlasts Illinois in overtime, 72-68<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Scottie Lindsey took a seat on the bench after going scoreless in Northwestern’s previous game.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Wildcats’ second-leading scorer still managed to play 39 minutes and come through in the clutch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lindsey scored five of his game-high 22 points in overtime and Northwestern trailed for much of the evening before pulling out a 72-68 victory over Illinois on Friday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 6-foot-5 senior came in averaging 15.3 points but did not start after going 0 for 8 from the floor in Northwestern’s 52-51 loss to Georgia Tech on Tuesday night.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I knew the team needed me to bounce back from last game,” Lindsey said. “I knew I played a really bad game. That was just motivation to come out and play. The guys that ended last game really showed great character and fight. That was rewarding them. I had to accept it and it worked out<\/span><\/p>\n

Vic Law added 16 points before fouling out in overtime and Bryant McIntosh had 14 points and six assists for Northwestern (5-3).<\/span><\/p>\n

Leron Black led Illinois (6-2) with 15 points, whle Te’Jon Lucas and Mark Alstork had 14 points apiece.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We might have set a Guinness Book of World Records for the most travel calls tonight,” said Illinois coach Brad Underwood. “And we’re traveling. We can’t have 11 of our turnovers from bigs.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Those are self-inflicted. Those are mistakes you can’t make. Those are not Northwestern beating us … those are our mistakes that allowed them to have success.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Illinois led twice in overtime before a pair of Lindsey free throws with 59 seconds left gave Northwestern the lead for good.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dererk Pardon blocked two shots in the final minute to preserve the victory.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I was really proud of Scottie,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. “Everyone knows he had a tough night the other night in Atlanta.”<\/span><\/p>\n

BIG PICTURE<\/span><\/p>\n

Northwestern: The top four players from the first Northwestern team to reach the NCAA Tournament are back, but the Wildcats continued to look like a shell of last year’s team despite the victory. Northwestern committed turnovers on its final three possessions of regulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Illinois: The Illini went 19 for 37 on 2-point field goals and shot 81 percent from the foul line, but committed 19 turnovers and went just 3 for 18 from 3-point territory in producing their lowest scoring output of the season. Their previous low came in an 80-73 loss to Wake Forest on Tuesday night.<\/span><\/p>\n

MOVE UP THE CALENDAR<\/span><\/p>\n

It was the earliest Big Ten game in Illinois’ century-long history in the league.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Big Ten season was moved up because the league will hold its conference tournament a week early in order to stage it at Madison Square Garden in New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’m a fan of it right now because we’re 1-0,” Collins said. “Overall, it is difficult. I just feel like you get into such a rhythm of using your nonconference to prepare for conference play. It is what it is.”<\/span><\/p>\n

HOME AWAY FROM (OTHER TEAM’S) HOME<\/span><\/p>\n

Orange-clad Illini fans outnumbered Wildcats fans in Northwestern’s temporary home 13 miles southwest of Welsh-Ryan Arena, which is undergoing major renovations and will not be used this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

UP NEXT<\/span><\/p>\n

Illinois will try to even its Big Ten record against Maryland on Sunday night. The Terrapins also dropped their Big Ten opener to Purdue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Northwestern will travel to play Purdue on Sunday afternoon in a battle of 1-0 Big Ten teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/ncaab\/2017\/12\/02\/northwestern-outlasts-illinois-in-overtime-72-68\/108221118\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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