DePaul Beats Northwestern 57-56
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Billy Garrett Jr. scored the game-winning basket as time expired and DePaul beat Northwestern 57-56 on Friday night.
Sandi Marcius finished with 12 points and Cleveland Melvin added 11 for DePaul (8-5).
Leading 52-51, Tommy Hamilton IV found Marcius, who was fouled on a dunk and made a free throw to complete a three-point play with 35.2 seconds left to put DePaul up 55-51.
Northwestern (7-6) had a chance in the final seconds. Tre Demps made two free throws, then, after Brandon Young missed the front end of a one-and-one, Demps was fouled on his putback. He missed both free throws, but Northwestern got the rebound and James Montgomery found Dave Sobolewski at the top of the key for a 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds left to give Northwestern a 56-55 lead.
DePaul broke a full-court press, Durrell McDonald found Garrett underneath the basket, and his shot just beat the clock.
Garrett finished with nine points for DePaul.
Demps scored 23 points for Northwestern and Crawford added 15 on 5-of-17 shooting.
Trailing 49-44 with 4:54 left, Nathan Taphorn made a 3-pointers and Sanjay Lumpkin made one of two from the line to cut the DePaul lead to one. Crawford then gave the Wildcats lead with a jumper in the lane to put them up 50-49 with 2:10 left. Marcius answered for DePaul with a three-point play to put DePaul up 52-50 with 52.3 seconds left. After Crawford made one of two free throws DePaul broke Northwestern's full-court press.
Melvin had back-to-back baskets to put DePaul up 39-31 early in the second half, but Northwestern quickly cut the deficit. JerShon Cobb and Demps both connected on 3-pointerss to get within 39-37 with 11:48 left.
It was an ugly first half for both teams. DePaul shot 28.6 percent and was 11 of 21 from the free-throw line. Northwestern committed 10 turnovers and shot 28 percent. DePaul led 28-23 at the half. Melvin led the Blue Demons with five points and four rebounds. Crawford led all scorers with eight points on 3-of-11 shooting for the Wildcats.
Sobolewski struggled against DePaul's pressure throughout the game. He committed five turnovers.
Cobb came off the bench to score three. He missed the last three games with an ankle injury.
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