It wasn’t a blowout. But it was a win.
The Wildcats grabbed only five offensive rebounds and were outrebounded 43-24 by Indiana, but still managed to eke out a 63-59 win Wednesday night.
The win moves Northwestern into a three-way tie for fourth in the Big Ten standings.
In the final minutes, the game came down to one thing — free throws.
With 2.9 seconds remaining and NU leading 61-59, a near-capacity crowd at Welsh- Ryan arena fell silent as guard T.J Parker stepped to the line. He sealed the victory after nailing two free throws. The Cats converted 16-of-20 free throws in the game, while Indiana made just 12-of-18.
“It wasn’t picture perfect, but it was a hard-fought game,” NU coach Bill Carmody said.
The reeling Hoosiers squad that has dropped 7-of-8 conference games.
The Cats (12-12, 7-6 Big Ten), on the other hand, have won 3 of 4 league contests and continued to defend their home court, where they have lost just one conference game this season. NU won consecutive home games against the Hoosiers for the first time since 1969-70 season.
Indiana (12-13, 6-8) crept back into the game in the second half, testing the Cats’ defense and grit. Guard Bracey Wright pulled the Hoosiers to within two, after scoring on a layup with about three seconds left in the game.
The Cats’ defense powered them down the stretch, preventing Indiana from taking the lead. NU forced seven turnovers in the second half, but allowed Indiana to erase a 10-point half time lead.
Indiana guard Marshall Strickland hit a three to cap a 17-7 run that tied the game at 39 with 11:35 remaining in the game. But the Hoosiers would get no closer.
On the Cats’ next possession, guard Jitim Young hit a layup to give NU a 41-39 lead it never relinquished.
Forward Vedran Vukusic led all scorers with 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3 of 5 from behind the arc and 8 of 8 from the free throw line.
“When you go out and make the first three shots right away, it makes you feel great,” Vukusic said. “You feel like you’re not going to miss the whole night.”
Vukusic gave the Cats a scare when he went down near NU’s basket about 10 minutes into the second half, grimacing and noticeably shaken.
“I just felt a sudden pain in my right-lower back,” said Vukusic, who left the game briefly. “It’s been bothering me most of the year.”
