The Sports Xchange
Nov 13, 2017
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Bryant McIntosh scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help No. 20 Northwestern defeat St. Peter's 75-66 on Monday night in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.
Dererk Pardon added 15 points and Gavin Skelly had 14 points and six rebounds as all five Northwestern starters reached double-digit scoring. Vic Law finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Nick Griffin had a game-high 19 points, going 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and Cameron Jones and Samuel Idowu each added 14 points for the Peacocks.
Northwestern (2-0) jumped out to an early lead after an 8-0 run that included back-to-back dunks by Skelly and a 3-pointer by Scottie Lindsey, which prompted St. Mary's coach John Dunne to call a timeout. Lindsey finished with 12 points and a team-high six assists.
The Peacocks (0-2) responded after the timeout, using a 14-4 run to take a 17-15 lead with 8:24 remaining in the first half.
Despite nine first-half turnovers, Northwestern answered with a 17-8 run to close the half and never trailed again, building a 32-25 lead by halftime.
The Wildcats were 8 of 10 to start the second half, including four 3-pointers, and steadily pulled away, leading by as many as 17 points. McIntosh had 10 points in the second half and was 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.
St. Peter's relied heavily on the 3-point shot to stay in the game, hitting 10 of 26 from long range, but struggled to match Northwestern's physical toughness in the post.
The Wildcats won the rebounding battle 34-6 and outscored St. Peter's 28-18 in the paint.
NOTES: Northwestern coach Chris Collins (1998-2000) and St. Peter's coach John Dunne (2001-06) are both former Seton Hall assistant coaches. ... Northwestern is now 2-0 against St. Peter's. The Wildcats won the first meeting 83-56 on Dec. 13, 2000. ... Northwestern is the only Power-5 team on St. Peter's schedule. ... Both teams will play two games in Uncasville, Conn., this weekend as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.