Dec 15, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Jitim Young (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech) scored 23 points and Tavaras Hardy (Joliet, Ill./Providence) had 16 points and 12 rebounds Saturday night, leading Northwestern to a 58-55 win over Florida A&M.
Northwestern (6-1) was playing for only the second time in 17 days, but won its fifth straight for its best start in four years.
Michael Griffith scored 19 points to lead Florida A&M's Rattlers (1-7), which plays its first 11 games away from home. Demarcus Wilkins added 18 points.
The Wildcats lost forward Vedran Vukusic (Split, Croatia/Medical HS) when he injured his right shoulder diving for a loose ball midway through the first half. The freshman came in averaging 9.7 points, with 12-of-13 from 3-point range this season. Vukusic had three points Saturday.
Griffith chipped a front tooth in the first half and was bleeding from his mouth. He returned with about seven minutes left in the half, and quickly made a layup and 3-pointer to bring Florida A&M within 20-17.
But Northwestern made a 7-0 run as Drew Long (Houston, Texas/Stratford) and Young made transition layups to put the Wildcats ahead 27-17 with 3:16 left.
Young had 13 points by halftime and Northwestern led 28-22.
A 3-pointer and a layup by Young put Northwestern ahead 48-35 with 10 minutes to go. Jason Miles hit a 3-pointer as the Rattlers had a 7-0 run to get within 48-42, then got as close as three points but no closer.
Florida A&M made only 4-of-8 at the foul line down the stretch and 11-of-20 for the game.
Northwestern shot 26 percent in the second half, with Winston Blake (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior), the team's No. 2 scorer this season, going 1-of-11 from the field for the game.