EVANSTON, Ill. – The Privateers scored seven unanswered points with 1:11 to go in the first and began the second half with three steals and four points to cut the deficit to four. However, Ryan Taylor's second half and Northwestern's shooting from the charity stripe led the Wildcats (1-0) to a 82-52 victory over the University of New Orleans (1-1) Thursday evening at new Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Gerrale Gates led the Privateers with 10 points and added five rebounds, and
Ezekiel Charles,
Scott Plaisance Jr. and
Damion Rosser followed with seven points.
COACH'S THOUGHTS
"The score does not dictate how we played," said
Mark Slessinger. "We aren't pleased with the result, but our effort was there. It is important for us to learn from this game and continue to move towards preparing for Monday. I'm encouraged by the way we ended the first and began the second."
FIRST HALF
Fans witnessing the first game in new Welsh-Ryan Arena were treated to a rarity from the tip with three jump balls to begin the contest.
Northwestern scored the opening nine points, but the Privateers put the brakes on the run-in style as
Lamont Berzat finding Rosser for the finish.
Out of the media timeout, Plaisance dunked home an open basket off the
Bryson Robinson dish to cut the deficit to 14-8 (14:28).
On the ensuing Wildcat possession,
Jahmel Myers and the UNO defense forced a shot clock violation. Northwestern remained scoreless for over three minutes before a three with 12:02 left to play in the half.
The Privateers chipped away at the Northwestern lead as Robinson went coast to coast and Rosser dunked home the Plaisance pass with 4:04 to go.
A 7-0 New Orleans run capped by the put back by Rosser off the missed free throw made it a six-point game with 90 seconds remaining in the half as the visiting Privateers looked to erase the slow start.
The Wildcats led 36-28 at the break and settled for long distance shots, attempting 19 three-pointers in the stanza. Beginning the game 5-of-10, Northwestern cooled off with the New Orleans defense swarming, limiting NU to 5-of-18 shooting throughout the remainder of the first.
Gates led the team with eight points and four rebounds and Berzat dished four assists. Vic Law paced the Wildcats with 12 points, reaching 1,000 for his career.
SECOND HALF
Plaisance began the second half with a jumper and Charles followed with a layup to make it 36-32 after the defense forced a Wildcat air ball.
The Privateers forced back-to-back Northwestern turnovers with Berzat cutting the home team's lead to five on a layup at the 15:18 mark. Moments later,
Amari Haynes' steal gave New Orleans the momentum it needed as Charles went to the line.
Robinson's triple with 11:56 remaining cut the double-digit Northwestern lead to seven, but a 9-2 Wildcat run extended the NU lead to 14.
INSIDE THE BOX
Gates reached double figures for the second consecutive game. Taylor led all scorers with 20 points and shot 6-of-11 from three-point range. Vic Law followed with 18 points and two others – Dererk Pardon and A.J. Turner reached double figures.
Northwestern went 21-of-26 from the free throw line.
NEXT UP
The Privateers return to Lakefront Arena to host Pensacola Christian Monday at 7 p.m. before visiting UAB Wednesday to end a stretch of four games in nine days.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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