Despite struggling for the first 39 minutes in what was likely his last game at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Senior Craig Moore made his shots when it mattered most in Sunday’s 55-49 win over Iowa. With 1:02 to go and NU leading by just two, the ‘Cats senior leader nailed a three pointer to increase the Northwestern lead to five. Then, after Iowa scored on its next possession to cut the lead back to three, Moore calmly swished two free throws to secure NU’s seventh conference victory and sixteenth win overall. After the free throws, the student section exploded into chants of “just like football,” a reference to the Northwestern football team’s 22-17 victory over Iowa in the fall.
Moore, who cried during an emotional pre-game ceremony honoring him and fellow seniors Marlon Day, Patrick Houlihan, and Sterling Williams, finished the game with 11 points. He had been just 1-10 shooting behind the arc before he made the three pointer with 1:02 left to play.
Despite the heroics provided by Moore, the ‘Cats player of the game had to be junior Kevin Coble. Coble just missed registering a double-double, collecting nine rebounds to go with 16 points. Coble, who even had three blocks, made a jump shot that ultimately put Northwestern up for good with 4:20 to play. Junior Michael Thompson also contributed significantly with four assists and 14 points. Thompson made three straight three pointers in the second half that helped NU seize back control of the game just when it appeared the momentum was swinging to the Hawkeyes.
However, it was the ‘Cats defense which truly enabled them to avenge their February 7 loss at Iowa. During the last 4:32 of the game Iowa scored just two points and those came on a largely uncontested layup where the ‘Cats where primarily concerned with not fouling and stopping the clock. NU also kept Iowa guard Jake Kelly, the game’s high scorer with 23 points, from getting off a single shot during the last four minutes of the game.
Iowa, who has not won a Big Ten road game this year, falls to 14-15 overall and 4-12 in conference play. The ‘Cats are now 16-11 overall and 7-9 in the Big Ten. The victory all but ensures that Northwestern will receive a bid to at least the NIT. The ‘Cats could still make the NCAA Tournament if they win their remaining games against road opponents Purdue and Ohio State and then win two to three games in the Big Ten Tournament. If NU does fall short of the NCAA Tournament, it is possible that Moore and the other seniors could play another game at Welsh-Ryan because NIT games are played at teams’ home sites for the first few rounds of the tournament.