MINNEAPOLIS — Northwestern has been tested and tortured with agonizing losses on the road this season.
So Wednesday night’s opportunity to steal one at Minnesota provided an enticing chance for redemption, and the Wildcats cashed in with a 72-66 victory.
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Bryant McIntosh made 4 of 7 3-pointers and led the Wildcats with 17 points. Tre Demps and Alex Olah each scored 11. Northwestern (12-14, 3-10 Big Ten) shot 47 percent from 3-point range (15 of 32).
Nate Mason scored 15 points off the bench to lead the Golden Gophers (16-11, 5-9).
After the teams battled to a 36-36 halftime tie, Minnesota scored the first six points after the break as Joey King hit from long range. But the Wildcats quickly answered. Freshman Vic Law hit three straight 3-pointers and Olah added a basket to make it 49-42 before Gophers coach Richard Pitino called a timeout.
Demps tacked on a 3-pointer to increase Northwestern’s lead to 52-42 before the Gophers fought back to within 52-47 on a driving layup by DeAndre Mathieu.
Northwestern won its first Big Ten game of this season on Dec. 30 at Rutgers, as well as its previous one Sunday against Iowa.
In between those two Big Ten victories was a lot of heartache that came with 10 straight losses.
Their 66-61 overtime victory over Iowa on Sunday provided a glimmer of excitement and relief.
“To be able to see guys jumping around in the locker room and smiling and feeling good about what they accomplished … you need that,” NU coach Chris Collins said. “And that has been a challenge for us. We haven’t gotten that kind of feedback.
“There is definitely a little more pep to your step (after a victory). You get a little more excited and certainly it was just what the doctor ordered for this team. And I feel good about us moving forward.”
Moving immediately forward was Wednesday night’s date with a Golden Gophers team trying to get back on the winning track after suffering a 90-71 loss at Indiana.
Northwestern’s Sanjay Lumpkin, who grew up in nearby Wayzata, Minn., was particularly looking forward to facing Minnesota.
“I always love going back home,” Lumpkin said. “I want to go in there and get another win. I haven’t lost when I was in the game at Williams Arena, so I hope we can get another one this year.”
Minnesota senior Andre Hollins averaged 21.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in his previous eight games. Last Sunday against the Hoosiers, Hollins posted his eighth 20-point game of the season with a team-high 23 points.
The Gophers entered the game second in the country in steals per game (10.5) and fourth in turnover margin (5.7), to lead the Big Ten in those categories.
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