Freshman center Ryan Young had his first double-double with season highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds to help host Northwestern overcame an early 10-point deficit and earn a 70-59 victory over Norfolk State in the campus round of the Ft. Myers Tip Off tournament on Friday.
Pete Nance had 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and six rebounds, and Miller Kopp had 11 points and five rebounds for the Wildcats (2-2), who were 27 of 30 from the foul line and led by as many as 19 points in the second half.
Jermaine Bishop had 24 points and tied a career high with five 3-pointers, and Devante Carter had 14 points and six rebounds for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association Spartans (3-3), who were playing the second game of a season-opening stretch in which they play 10 of 11 on the road.
Northwestern shot 33.9 percent and had 15 assists on 19 field goals. Pat Spencer had nine rebounds and five assists and Boo Buie was 7-of-7 from the free-throw line and had four assists. The 6-foot-10 Young sank 11 of 12 free-throws attempts.
Norfolk State, which shot 41.2 percent overall, was 10-of-20 from the foul line.
Sophomore Nance, a 6-foot-10 forward, is averaging 15.3 points a game and with six rebounds Friday has 36. He became the first Wildcat since 2010 with 40 points and 30 rebounds in the first three games.
Kopp and Anthony Gaines made the first two baskets of the second half to give the Wildcats a 41-26 lead, capping a 33-7 run that began after the Spartans took an 18-8 lead seven minutes into the game
Bishop had two 3-pointers and Joe Bryant Jr. and Yoro Sidibe made one apiece as the Spartans made four of their first five threes for a 10-point lead before Northwestern went on a 12-0 run on nine free throws and a Kopp 3-pointer for its first lead.
Nance had 11 points and three 3-pointers in the final 6:21 of the half for a 37-25 lead. Bishop had the Spartans'' only two field goals in the final 13 minutes of the first half, when they were 2 of 14 from the floor.
--Field Level Media
Norfolk State | Northwestern | |
Jermaine Bishop 24 | Scoring | Ryan Young 19 |
Steven Whitley 5 | Assists | Pat Spencer 5 |
DeVante Carter 6 | Rebounds | Ryan Young 12 |
Jermaine Bishop 5 | Free Throws Made | Ryan Young 11 |
DeVante Carter 2 | Steals | Anthony Gaines 2 |
Jermaine Bishop 1 | Blocks | Pete Nance 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Norfolk State | 59 | 41.2 | 7-21 | 10-20 | 12 | 30 | 2 | 7 | 15 |
Northwestern | 70 | 33.9 | 5-22 | 27-30 | 15 | 41 | 1 | 5 | 10 |