Morning Box Score: Hawks Extend Win Streak, Northwestern Fighting for At-Large Tournament Bid
By Tim Bearden in News on Feb 19, 2012 3:30PM
The Blackhawks buried the struggling Blue Jackets Saturday to extend their win streak to two. Columbus struck five minutes into the first period giving them a 1-0 lead. But two quick goals late in the first by captain Jonathan Toews and Viktor Stahlberg put the Hawks up 2-1 and they never looked back. Patrick Sharp, Patrick Kane, Marcus Kruger and Sami Lepisto each had a goal in the win over Columbus. Corey Crawford, whose goaltending has come into question as of late, made 33 of 34 saves to help the Blackhawks end their road trip with a win.
Northwestern keeps their tournament hopes alive as forward John Shurna topped Billy McKinney's 35-year-old school record for all-time leading scorer. Shurna hit the 1,902 point mark in his three year career with Northwestern Saturday night with his 18 point game; McKinney's record was 1,900 points. The Wildcats took an eight point lead into halftime against the Gophers, who are struggling late this season, losing three straight and four out of their last five, and were able to maintain the point advantage to stay on the bubble for an NCAA tournament bid this year. Guard Dave Sobolewski led the team with 22 points and Drew Crawford had 11.
SIU-Edwardsville 64, Northern Illinois 62
Mark Yelovich summed up Northern Illinois' season with a buzzer beater to edge out the struggling Huskies Saturday. The Huskies led by 10 going into halftime, but SIU-E rallied from a 12 point deficit to keep the game close. The Huskies tied at 62 with less than a minute left, but Yelovich's last-minute jumper and 22 points was just too much for the Huskies, who have now lost their 11th straight road game.
Illinois-Chicago 67, Eastern Illinois 63
The Flames took their frustrations out on the Panthers Saturday, winning their first road game of the season. Gary Talton led the charge with 20 points followed by Daniel Barnes and Hayden Humes with 14 apiece. The Panthers rallied back from an 11 point deficit with a 10-0 run late in the second half, but Barnes let the clock run and sunk a three pointer with four seconds left to clinch the game for Illinois-Chicago.
Loyola of Chicago 56, Bradley 44
It wasn't a pretty win, but the Ramblers will take it over the struggling Braves. Ben Averkamp scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds to give him a double-double for the evening and helped Loyola surge over Bradley Saturday. Walt Gibler, the team's second-leading scorer, was resting a shoulder injury and did not play. Joe Crisman tallied 10 points for the Ramblers.
The Blue Devils started the game strong, leading by as many as 17 points in the first half and going into halftime with a 10 point lead over the Cardinals, who are currently 19th in the nation, but they couldn't hang on in overtime. Brandon Young led DePaul's scoring effort with 27 points and five assists, but the Cardinals were just too much in the end. DePaul has now lost its 36th straight game against a ranked opponent and 11 of their last 12, but they came out ready to win, which is an improvement.