March 2, 2011
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Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: Northwestern 68, Minnesota 57
Records: NU (17-12, 7-11 Big Ten), Minnesota (17-12, 6-11)
Next NU Event: Thursday, March 10 -- Big Ten Tournament (Indianapolis), vs. Minnesota, 1:30 p.m. CT
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Alex Marcotullio and Michael Thompson scored 18 points apiece as Northwestern fought off a sluggish start to earn a 68-57 win over Minnesota in its regular-season finale at Welsh-Ryan Arena Wednesday night.
Battling the emotions of Senior Night, the Wildcats came out of the gates slowly, though the Golden Gophers struggled to get into a rhythm as well.
After John Shurna started the game's scoring with a 3-pointer, Minnesota scored 10 of the game's next 12 points to take a five-point lead. The visitors' lead was still five before back-to-back triples by Thompson and Marcotullio gave NU an 18-17 advantage with just over nine minutes remaining in the half.
However, the Wildcats struggled from the field throughout the opening 20 minutes of play, connecting on just three of their 15 attempts from beyond the arc and shooting 32.1 percent overall prior the break.
Minnesota would take a 31-25 lead at the intermission as it ended the half on a 9-3 run over the final five minutes.
It didn't get much better for Northwestern to begin the second stanza as it failed to score on each of its first five possessions. Things began to look bleak for the Wildcats when Austin Hollins hit a triple with 14 minutes remaining to extend the Golden Gophers' edge to 49-39.
Thompson struggled with his shot throughout the opening 27 minutes of play, but his triple got NU within seven at 41-34 and seemed to spark the Wildcats. Following two free throws by Trevor Mbakwe, Marcotullio drilled a three and then followed with two from the charity stripe to make it a four-point game.
Following a basket by Hollins, Shurna make one free throw and then connected from deep to cut the Minnesota advantage to 45-43 with 7:21 remaining. Marcotullio continued his stellar second half by coming up with a steal and converting a three-point play to give the 'Cats the lead. After a stop on the other end, Marcotullio nailed a trifecta to make it 49-45. The sophomore guard tallied 11 points during Northwestern's 18-4 run.
Blake Hoffarber, who was held to five points, answered with his only 3-pointer of the game on the other end, but Shurna matched it.
Thompson had just six points over the first 36 minutes of play, but took over down the stretch to clinch a victory in his final collegiate home game. It was a three-point game when Thompson connected from deep to put NU up six with 3:39 left before his ankle-breaking, step-back trey with 2:30 to go made it a nine-point game and helped seal the comeback win.
The contest also marked the final collegiate regular-season home game for Mike Capocci, Ivan Peljusic and Jeff Ryan.
Marcotullio's 18 points set a new career high, while Thompson tied a collegiate best with seven rebounds.
The victory was the 17th of the season for Wildcats. Coupled with 20 wins a year ago, it marks a tie for the most wins in consecutive seasons in program history.
Northwestern opens play at the 2011 Big Ten Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., next Thursday, March 10. The Wildcats will face off against Minnesota once again at 1:30 p.m. Central time. It'll mark the third time in the last four years that the teams have met in the opening round of the Big Ten tourney.
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