Dec 19, 2009 5:58 pm US/Central
Northwestern Beats Stanford 70-62 For 8th Straight
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) ―
Given the early returns, Northwestern finally might have what it takes to erase its dubious distinction as the only major-conference school never to have played in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
"That's in the back of our minds," Michael Thompson said Saturday after he scored 15 points to help the Wildcats defeat Stanford 70-62 for their eighth straight victory. "Our goal is to make it for the first time. It would be great to be part of history."
John Shurna scored 22 points for Northwestern (9-1), which matched its best start in 79 years. The Wildcats, who haven't been ranked since 1968-69, have their longest winning streak since going 9-0 to start the 1993-94 season.
They shot only 39.6 percent but were aggressive on both defense and offense, forcing Stanford (5-5) into 18 turnovers and 28 fouls.
"We have to get better, but give them credit: They played terrific defense and were very active," said Cardinal coach Johnny Dawkins, a former Duke player and assistant coach who knows good basketball when he sees it.
"They are a good team. They have good chemistry ... and when you have that, you can have a lot of success. It's showing early for them this season."
It wasn't showing so well late in Saturday's game, however. After Northwestern used an 11-2 run to take a 60-50 lead, Stanford's Jeremy Green scored nine straight points to make it a one-point game and Wildcats coach Bill Carmody called time out with 1:33 to go.
Carmody said his players "were just a little tense. We were playing not to lose. Our possessions were not good. We were walking on eggshells. I told them, 'Fellas, this looks a lot like ... last year. Let's not let this stuff happen again.' I wanted to remind those guys that, hey, this is a different team."
Thompson responded with a 3-pointer, Green missed from long range and Northwestern wrapped up the victory by making its final seven free throws.
Northwestern's early success has been a surprise in that it has come without top player Kevin Coble, who hurt his left foot three days before the season started and will miss the entire campaign.
"You can't look back," Shurna said. "Kevin's a great player, but ... the season's going to continue. We have confidence. Our goals haven't changed."
Landry Fields had 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Stanford, which had beaten Northwestern the last four times the teams had met. Coming into the game, the Cardinal had averaged only 11.3 turnovers, 17th fewest in the nation.
"We have to be stronger," Dawkins said. "We have to value the basketball. Whenever you're playing on the road, especially, you have to take care of it, and we didn't do a good job of that."
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Box Score - Stanford v Northwestern
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