Dec. 16, 2010
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Site: Evanston, Ill.
Score: Northwestern 78, American 62
Records: NU (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten), American (6-4, 0-0 Patriot League)
Next NU Event: Monday, Dec. 20 vs. St. Francis (N.Y.) -- New York, N.Y., 6 p.m. CT
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Needing 16 points to reach 1,000 for his career at the game's outset, junior John Shurna instead went for 28 in leading the 'Cats to a 78-62 victory over American Thursday at Welsh-Ryan Arena as NU improved to 7-0 on the season. Shurna landed squarely on 1,000 points with 8:24 remaining in the first half on a free throw that completed a three-point play, one of several highlight-worthy plays by NU's leading man.
Shurna became the 30th player in school history to hit the plateau and the 17th to do so before the end of his junior season.
Senior point guard Michael Thompson -- who accomplished that same scoring feat last season -- added 23 points to the NU cause thanks in part to four 3-pointers, while center Luka Mirkovic finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
It was the John Shurna show early as the junior accounted for Northwestern's first five made field goals, including two open 3-pointers and a fall-away jumper on the baseline.
But the Eagles were able to keep pace thanks to some hot shooting of their own, tying the game first at 12 and again at 15 with a pair of triples.
The Wildcats gained a foothold on the lead with a 7-0 run only to have American climb back to within one just minutes later. But Shurna's milestone 3-point play and a pretty backdoor pass from Mike Capocci to a cutting Alex Marcotullio helped keep the Eagles at bay.
A Michael Thompson 3-pointer out of a well-run offensive set by Northwestern gave the 'Cats an eight-point advantage, a lead that American was able to slice in half over the next two minutes as NU headed to the locker rooms ahead 38-34. Both teams finished the opening half shooting at a 54 percent clip from the field and at least 50 percent from 3-point range.
Northwestern regained some breathing room in the second half thanks mostly to some stingy defense that limited the Eagles to only four points in the first seven minutes. By the time the under-12 media timeout arrived, the Wildcats had built a 12-point lead -- their largest of the game to that point -- thanks to a rebound and putback by Luka Mirkovic and a triple from Thompson on back-to-back possessions.
Shurna delivered the dagger to the Eagles two minutes later when he collected an errant pass six feet beyond the top of the key and, with the shot clock about to expire, calmly drilled a long 3-pointer that extended NU's lead to 20 and brought the crowd to its feet.
The hits kept on coming for Shurna, who with four minutes remaining had an athletic block on a Vlad Moldoveanu offering at one end and wowed the NU faithful at the other with a scooping and-1 layup that finished off his evening.
NU's strong offensive showing included an even 50 percent (25-of-50) shooting effort from the field and a 21-of-25 success rate at the free throw line (84 percent).
Northwestern brings its unblemished record to New York City and Madison Square Garden on Monday to compete in the annual Holiday Festival, opening play against St. Francis (N.Y.) before facing either St. John's or Davidson on Tuesday.
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