Three days removed from an offensive slugfest against No. 10 Illinois, Northwestern returned to Welsh-Ryan Arena with its perfect conference home record on the line.
While the Wildcats (15-5, 6-3 Big Ten) boosted their postseason resume in Wednesday’s triumph, the team surrendered 91 points — including eleven threes — and needed to batten down the hatches against Ohio State (13-7, 3-6 Big Ten) to prevail.
Behind a collective team effort, NU held its conference foe to 58 points — the fewest it has allowed since its Dec. 20 game versus Arizona State. The victory embodied the defensive identity coach Chris Collins has instilled in his team during last year’s historic run.
The ’Cats made it difficult for the Buckeye offense to generate any momentum throughout Saturday’s contest — surrendering seven total field goals in each half — and elevated their intensity over the latter stages of the first frame.
With a little over four minutes remaining in the first half, NU held a 31-25 advantage and extended its lead into double digits entering the intermission.
Deflecting multiple passes and double-teaming guards near the baseline, the ’Cats held the Buckeyes scoreless from the field over the final 4:12 of the first half — a stretch in which NU’s defense forced three misses from beyond the arc and two turnovers.
The ’Cats capitalized on their ability to restrict Ohio State from the field, riding an 8-2 scoring run and building a 41-30 lead after the game’s first 20 minutes.
“We were dialed in with our talk (on defense),” Collins said. “Our communication and physicality was really good and we made minimal mistakes on switching. We finished (our defensive effort) with rebounds and (limiting) them to one shot (by) keeping them off the glass.”
With graduate student guard Boo Buie and junior guard Brooks Barnhizer combining for seven points over the first half, NU’s ability to restrict the visitors to shoot at a 7-of-20 clip was especially crucial.
Graduate student guard Ryan Langborg played a significant offensive and defensive role, while Buie and Barnhizer looked to ease into the game. The Princeton transfer wreaked havoc on Buckeye guards on the defensive end.
“They were playing (Buie) hard, so a lot of us had to step up and fill some of that role,” Langborg said. “When we’re playing like that on defense and forcing turnovers, we move the ball well and (are) hard to guard.”
Out of the locker room, NU picked up right where it left off. The ’Cats held Ohio State scoreless from the field over the first 5:26 of the second frame, which allowed for the offense to build off of an energized and revitalized sea of purple.
During this stretch, NU extended its lead to 52-34 and outmatched the visitors on both ends of the floor.
While the ’Cats’ run holding the Buckeyes basketless from the field was snapped, the offense built off of the squad’s defensive energy. Capped by Buie’s steal and Barnhizer’s running layup, NU stormed out to a 11-0 run and extended its lead to an insurmountable 66-39 advantage midway through the second frame.
The ’Cats restricted the Buckeyes to shoot at a mere 1-of-10 clip from beyond the arc over the second half and shut down most offensive threats –– aside from guards Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr. — who combined for 33 of Ohio State’s 58 total points.
NU will look to replicate its best defensive effort of the conference season when the team travels to West Lafayette, Indiana, on Wednesday to square off against No. 2 Purdue.
“Our defense was probably the best it has been all year in the league,” Collins said. “I was proud of our rotations, our activity, our ability to get deflections and the (team’s) effort to win the game the way we did tonight. We knew how important this game was for us to take care on our home floor.”
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