Men’s Basketball

Freshman Vic Law is finally showing why he was a top-100 recruit coming out of high school.

The 6-foot-7 forward had some growing pains this season, as many freshmen do, but he turned in the most impressive performance of his career Saturday in a 60-39 home win against Penn State.

Law was NU’s best player all afternoon, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and a block.

“Certainly this was a breakout for Vic Law,” coach Chris Collins said. “He’s been in the gym tirelessly working with the coaches on his skills. That’s why you love to see days like today pay off for a guy.”

Law’s career-highs entering Saturday were 16 points and eight rebounds, making Saturday his first career double-double.

“Each game of freshman year has been up and down,” Law said. “I’ve started to lock in mentally and start to prepare the way I wanted to.”

Law was all over the floor with 9 points and six boards in the first half alone as the Wildcats built a 28-20 halftime lead.

After Penn State closed NU’s lead to 38-34 nine minutes into the second half, Law contributed 8 points in a 18-2 run by the Cats that ignited the Welsh-Ryan Arena crowd and put the game away.

“He had that big smile going,” Collins said. “We need that personality. We need that energy. When you lose a little confidence, you have a tendency to lose that swagger. He was huge for us.”

Earlier in the season, even when Law was scoring, he was not too efficient. When he produced his previous Big-Ten high of 11 points against Nebraska, he shot just 3-of-8 from the field and had three turnovers.

In the last few games, that has changed. Law did his work Saturday on 7-of-12 shooting, including three 3-pointers. He also coughed up the ball only once.

When he scored 9 points Wednesday against Minnesota, he shot 3-of-5 from the field and did not turn the ball over at all.

“I just think I’m starting to get used to college basketball now, so everything’s getting a little easier,” Law said. “My mindset has changed greatly since the beginning of the season. … (I’m) acting older than what I am.”

Collins subbed Law out with 18 seconds remaining and the game in hand. He pulled his freshman aside.

“Welcome to the Big Ten,” the coach said.

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Twitter: @Jesse_Kramer