Nov. 6, 2008
Box Score
Photo Gallery (BUY PHOTOS)
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Kevin Coble scored 20 points and freshman John Shurna contributed a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but Robert Morris (Ill.) held off the Wildcats 69-62 in an exhibition contest at Welsh-Ryan Arena Thursday evening.
NU opens its regular season Sunday, Nov. 16 when it hosts Central Arkansas.
The Eagles, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Division I preseason national poll, were led by 16 points from Indiana University transfer DeAndre Thomas. Jerwin Calloway added 14 points, including hitting three of his four 3-pointers in the first half.
"You have to give them credit because they played us hard," Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody said of Robert Morris. "Thomas is a real rough guy, and he played a heck of a game. But we just have to make shots. I thought that their pressure bothered us when they pressured our forwards in the middle of the first half, and it changed the complexion of the game. I don't think we handled it that well. It was only about a five or six minute stretch, but I think that changed things."
After Northwestern jumped out to a 6-2 lead to start the game, Robert Morris went on a 17-2 run to take their largest advantange of the contest at 19-8 midway through the opening half of play.
The Wildcats would trim the deficit to five on a pair of free throws by Coble with just under five minutes remaining in the opening period, but the Eagles would eventually build their lead back up to nine, 34-25, at the half.
NU was ice cold from the floor over the opening 20 minutes of play, hitting just 9 of 39 field goal attempts (23.1 percent), including 3 of its first 19.
However, the 'Cats came out of the intermission on fire, as Coble and Shurna combined to score the first seven points of the half to creep back to within 34-32. NU eventually took its first lead since the opening minutes of the contest when it went up 43-42 on a 3-point play by Shurna.
But Robert Morris was able to weather the storm. The game was tied at 51 apiece with six minutes left when the Eagles scored six consecutive points. Northwestern trimmed the deficit to two on a pair of Michael Thompson free throws with 1:31 to go, but Thomas got a put-back lay-in with a minute left to stretch the vistors' edge back to four.
Northwestern drew a foul at the other end but was unable to convert on the front end of the bonus and then missed a pair of lay-up attempts before the Eagles made three of four free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the win.
The Wildcats shot just 30.6 percent (22-72) in the game compared to 44.1 percent (26-59) for Robert Morris. NU had 17 offensive rebounds, but settled for just 13 second-chance points.
Shurna proved to be a bright spot in his first collegiate contest.
"John did some good things in there," Carmody said. "I liked his defensive rebounding, and I know he's going to get some looks out of our offense. He's a pretty decent shooter, but I like his defensive rebounds."