Men’s Basketball

Despite a late run by Fairfield, Northwestern held off the Stags recording its second win of the season by a score of 79-72.

Sophomore guard Bryant McIntosh stole the show both offensively and defensively. Following an 18-4 Stags (0-3) run to whittle a double digit lead down to three points, McIntosh’s clutch steal and three-point play with 52 seconds left sealed the deal.

“I played more aggressively on defense,” McIntosh said. “I tried to make a couple more plays. Coach has been on me about getting more aggressive. Getting in passing lanes and trying to read people’s eyes a little bit and it paid off.”

McIntosh not only played impressive defense, but he also stood out on the offensive end leading the team with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting.

With just 2:30 left in the game, the Wildcats (2-0) led by just three points after maintaining a double digit lead for almost the entire contest. Sophomore forward Marcus Gilbert headed the Fairfield charge late in the second half. Gilbert, who only scored 5 points in the first half, shot 5-of-9 in the second.

“We started fouling,” Collins said of Fairfield’s second half run. “That’s when the game turned. It was close to 14 minutes when they got into the bonus. And all of the sudden 16 goes to 14 to 10. They start smelling like they are in the game. We have to do a better job playing without our hands and keeping the ball in front of us.”

NU had no trouble breaking the Stags’ press, which was implemented right from the opening tip. Fairfield committed ten turnovers in the first half, leading to 16 points for the Cats.

Freshman guard Aaron Falzon picked up right where he left off from Friday’s opener, draining three early three-pointers in the game’s first five minutes. He cooled off quickly though, not burying another shot from beyond the arc for the rest of the game.

When the Cats next host Columbia Friday, they want to improve their defense after nearly collapsing late.

“Our defensive toughness has to be better by Friday,” junior guard Sanjay Lumpkin said. “We need to prepare for that game.”

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