MENS BASKETBALL

Northwestern 96, Illinois 91

ANDREW SELIGMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS

EVANSTON, Ill. - Boo Buie scored 29 points, Brooks Barnhizer added 23 and Northwestern beat No. 10 Illinois 96-91 in overtime.

The Wildcats (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten) scored the first nine points in overtime after Illinois’ Marcus Domask missed a jumper at the end of regulation. They got some payback after the Fighting Illini (14-5, 5-3) beat them by 30 on Jan. 2 without star guard Terrance Shannon Jr.

Neither team mounted any big runs in regulation, but Northwestern made a big push in OT.

Buie put the Wildcats on top with a 3-pointer. Barnhizer hit one from the corner, got fouled by Quincy Guerrier and made the free throw to complete the four-point play.

Matthew Nicholson put back a missed layup by Buie following a steal, making it 85-76 with 2:35 left, and the Wildcats remained in control the rest of the way.

Northwestern knocked off a top-10 team for the second time this season to go with a stunner over then-No. 1 Purdue at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Dec. 1.

Coleman Hawkins had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Illinois. Domask scored 22. Quincy Guerrier added 15 points and 11 rebounds, but Shannon had a rough time in his second game since a federal judge ordered Illinois last week to lift the suspension it handed down in the wake of a rape charge in Kansas.

He scored 12 points and heard it from Northwestern fans, who chanted “No means no!” throughout the game.

Buie finished two points shy of his season high and had seven assists.

Barnhizer, who scored a career-best 24 in a loss at Nebraska on Saturday, made four 3-pointers.

Ty Berry scored 14 and made three 3s, helping the Wildcats win for the third time in four games. Northwestern also improved to 10-1 at home.

BIG PICTURE

Illinois: The Illini dominated Northwestern on the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats 46-32. They outscored them 19-9 on second-chance points, but it still wasn’t enough.

Northwestern: The Wildcats continue to give opponents fits on their home court. The fact that they had their touch from the outside, making 11 of 18 3-pointers, helped.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Northwestern athletics press release

January 24, 2024