Nov. 4, 2010
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Site: Evanston, Ill (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: Northwestern 91, Robert Morris (Ill.) 71
Next NU Event: Friday, Nov. 12 -- at Northern Illinois, 8 p.m.
EVANSTON, Ill. - Drew Crawford posted 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots as Northwestern fought off an early challenge from Robert Morris (Ill.) to pull away for a 91-71 exhibition win Thursday evening at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
John Shurna contributed a game-high 19 points in just 23 minutes of action in the Wildcats' lone tune-up prior to their regular-season opener at Northern Illinois next Friday, Nov. 12.
"It looked like a first game to me," Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody said. "The first half we had 46 points, which I think we're capable of scoring this year, and we had some of our better shooters that had wide-open looks and missed them pretty badly.
"Guys were passing the ball around a little bit, being unselfish but they played hard. Robert Morris played hard as well."
The athletic Eagles successfully pushed the tempo early on and led by as many as seven, 12-5, just three minutes into the contest. Robert Morris' lead was still six with 13 minutes remaining in the opening half before the Wildcats began to take charge.
Six straight points by Shurna started a 12-0 Northwestern run, capped by a turn-around jumper by Davide Curletti. By the time they were finished, the Wildcats' surge was 23-6, allowing them to pull in front 38-27 with three minutes to go in the opening stanza.
Shurna tallied 13 of NU's first 21 points on the night, but the Wildcats got solid contributions from their bench to extend their lead once Shurna and Michael Thompson took a breather on the bench.
Northwestern led by as many as 14 in the opening half before a 3-pointer by Diante Watkins at the buzzer got the guests to within 46-35 at the break.
Despite the fast tempo, the 'Cats didn't commit a turnover until 17 minutes remained in the contest and finished with just four miscues on the night.
Robert Morris was able to hang around in the second half as it trailed by only eight with just under 14 minutes remaining. However, Thompson hit back-to-back 3-pointers before converting a lay-up and freshman JerShon Cobb nailed a triple of his own as Northwestern went on a 13-0 run to put the game out of reach.
While Crawford finished one rebound shy of a double-double, Shurna had eight boards of his own to go along with his 19 points, and Luka Mirkovic contributed eight points and eight rebounds. Thompson and Cobb finished in double figures in scoring with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Wildcats shot 49.3 percent (36-73) from the floor in the contest to 35.6 percent (26-73) for the Eagles. Northwestern finished the contest with 10 blocked shots, behind six by Crawford.
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