Northwestern Rallies Past Elon 68-67 In OT
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Tre Demps scored 21 points and hit the game-winning basket for a second straight game and Northwestern rallied down the stretch for a 68-67 overtime victory over Elon on Saturday.
Northwestern (4-0 Big Ten) remained unbeaten despite trailing throughout and managing to make only three of 14 three-pointers. Freshman Vic Law also had 16 points for the Wildcats. Demps, the junior guard, also had the game-winning basket Thursday against North Florida.
Tanner Samson led Elon (1-2 Colonial Athletic Association) with a game-high 24 points on 8-for-18 shooting from three-point range. Elijah Bryant added 16 points.
Elon led practically the entire game and had a 61-53 lead but didn't score in the final 3:49 of regulation.
With Elon ahead 40-38, Samson nailed back-to-back three-pointers — the second from about 25 feet — for a 46-38 Elon lead with just under 11 minutes to play. Northwestern appeared to be engaged in a fruitless game of catch-up for much of the second, but the Wildcats finally tied the score at 61 with 1:03 to play on a layup by guard Bryant McIntosh.
After a defensive stop at the other end, the Wildcats got the ball back with 39.5 seconds remaining and had a chance to set up the potential game-winning shot, but Demps' 15-footer bounced off the front rim and the game headed to overtime.
Northwestern had the first possession of the extra session, but failed to grab the lead for the first time since early in the first half. Samson then gave Elon a 64-61 lead with a 3-pointer. The Phoenix took a 67-62 lead with 2 minutes to play and the game — again — appeared over.
But the Wildcats staged another comeback. Lumpkin started the rally with a basket and Law cut the deficit to 67-66 with a pair of free throws with 1:38 to play.
Then, following a block by forward Gavin Skelly, Demps hit a 15-footer with 48.1 seconds to go to give Northwestern a 68-67 edge.
Northwestern held on from there.
TIP INS
Elon: After going 18-14 last season, including an 11-5 mark in the Southern Conference. The Phoenix moved this season the Colonial Athletic Association.
Northwestern: With the Wildcats struggling offensively, freshman guard Johnnie Vassar made his season debut in the second half. He finished with two points, making his only field-goal attempt, and three fouls.
UP NEXT
Elon faces Morgan State in Mexico on Monday in the Cancun Challenge.
Northwestern plays Miami (Ohio) in Mexico on Tuesday in the Cancun Challenge.
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