With the Big Ten season beginning next week, Northwestern’s basketball team didn’t need more personnel issues. But that’s what the Wildcats have.
Senior guard Mohamed Hachad is out indefinitely after undergoing an emergency appendectomy Wednesday morning. He won’t play Sunday against Northern Colorado at Welsh-Ryan Arena, and the Wildcats open Big Ten play Wednesday night against Purdue at home.
Center Mike Thompson left the team Dec. 7. Guard Evan Seacat has missed the last five games with soreness following off-season hernia surgery. And last spring, guard T. J. Parker gave up his senior season to play in France.
In the last four games, Hachad is averaging 14 points per game, raising his season average to 9.8. Hachad, who has taken some of the offensive burden off Vedran Vukusic (21.7 ppg), scored the winning basket at Seton Hall on Dec. 18.
Terry Bannon.
Bradley shocked in OT
Kyle Wilson, a former member of the Illini, hit a three-pointer with 19 seconds left in overtime, and P.J. Couisnard blocked Patrick O’Bryant’s last-second shot as Wichita State pulled out a 69-67 victory over Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference on Friday night.
With the Shockers (11-2, 2-0) trailing 67-65, Wilson took a pass out of the post from Paul Miller and scored over Marcellus Sommerville, and Couisnard made one free throw in the closing seconds.
O’Bryant had a chance to tie the game, but Couisnard outjumped the 7-foot center and blocked the shot. O’Bryant had one more shot but missed a short jumper badly.
Bradley (7-3, 1-1), who was playing its second overtime game in three nights, needed Daniel Ruffin’s 25-foot shot to forge a 61-61 tie.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
#2 Connecticut 111 vs. Quinnipiac 75
Hilton Armstrong had career-high 26 pts and Craig Austrie had 14 assists for Huskies (11-0). Rashad Anderson had 20 pts for UConn, who was without soph Rudy Gay (sore ankle).
Purdue 70 at #4 Memphis 90
Joey Dorsey’s 16 pts, 13 rebs led Tigers (11-1) to 8th straight win. Matt Kiefer, Chris Lutz and Marcus White each had 13 pts for Boilermakers (6-5), whose 3-game win streak ended.
Florida A&M 47 at #5 Florida 84
Joakim Noah, son of tennis great Yannick Noah, scored 18 pts on 9-13 FGs, 4 dunks, leading Gators (12-0) for 3rd straight game and helped extend team’s best start in school history.
#12 Geo. Wash. 58 at #19 N.C. State 79
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Cameron Bennerman led 5 players in doubles for Wolfpack (11-1) with 17 pts. Cedric Simmons added 14 pts, 10 rebs. Carl Elliott’s 14 points led Colonials (8-1), who shot just 31 percent.
Prairie View 38 at #15 Texas 110
Brad Buckman returned after missing 2 games (twisted right knee) and scored 20 for Longhorns (10-2). P.J. Tucker added 26 pts, while LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 pts, 16 rebs.
#18 Kentucky 71 vs. Ohio 63
Joe Crawford’s 23 pts led Wildcats (9-3). Rekalin Sims’ 3-point play gave Kentucky 60-59 lead with under 4:00 left. Mychal Green (16 pts) and Joliet grad Jeremy Fears (14) led Ohio (6-2).
Char. Southern 47 at #22 W. Forest 87
Shamaine Dukes had 11 pts and tied school’s freshman record with 10 assists in 1st start for Demon Deacons (10-2). Justin Gray scored 17 and Kyle Visser 15 as Wake won 3rd in row.
Canisius 66 at #25 W. Va. 80
Kevin Pittsnogle scored career-high 34 as Mountaineers (8-3) coasted. Pittsnogle’s 3-pointer with 12:54 left to surpass old mark of 27 pts. Mike Gansey added 15 pts for West Virginia.
Iowa 60 at Saint Louis 50
Jeff Horner returned from knee injury with 17 pts, 6 assists and Adam Haluska (17 pts) hit four 3-pointers for Hawkeyes (11-3). Ian Vouyoukas had 17 pts, 12 rebs for Billikens (6-6).
Eastern Illinois 72 vs. UMKC 67
Neuqua Valley grad Bobby Catchings had 10 pts in 1st 2:34 of 2nd half and finished career-best 32 to lead Panthers (2-8). Josh Gomes added 27 pts and hit go-ahead 3 with 9:09 left.
Chicago State 64 at IUPUI 87
George Hill scored 28, Brandon Cole 21 as Jaguars (6-6, 1-0) rolled in Mid-Continent, shooting 53 percent. Royce Parran had 18 pts, 7 assists for Cougars, who trailed 47-20 at half.
Western Illinois 58 vs. N. Florida 52
Fred Oguns scored 19 on 4-10 FGs, 11-12 FTs to lead Leathernecks (4-6) to consolation title of Central Florida Holiday Classic. NaVonta Kentle added 13 pts for WIU. Ospreys fall to 3-6.
Northern Illinois 56 vs. N. Dakota St. 57
The Bison (7-7), in 2nd year of Division I, outscored Huskies 31-23 in the 2nd half to erase a 7-point halftime deficit to win the Holiday Stores Classic in Bozeman, Mont. NIU falls to 6-3.
Wis.-Milwaukee 78 at Montana 74
Marshall grad Boo Davis had 20 pts, including 5 threes (cedil) in 20 mins to lift Panthers (8-3) past Grizzlies (10-2). Davis hit go-ahead three with 1:51 left to put UWM ahead 75-74.