EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern coach Chris Collins wants his team to take a step forward this year, after fighting last season.
It’s still early, but the wild cats made a pretty big statement on Sunday night.
Boo Buie scored 30 points in his career, and Northwestern defeated Michigan for the first time in nearly a decade, keeping the Spartans no. 4 for a 79-65 victory.
Pete Nance added 15 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in Northwestern’s biggest win since his first appearance at the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Freshman Ty Berry had 12 points in the Big Ten opening for each school, including three of the 10 Wildcats points.
“One of the worst performances of my 26 years,” said Michigan coach Tom Izzo. “It’s a harsh statement. I blame myself. I’m the one who has to prepare my team. “
Northwestern (4-1) stopped a 12-game series slip, with Michigan’s first win since Jan. 14, 2012. It was also the Wildcats’ first win over a top-five team in the AP poll. to -65 victory over Magic Johnson and then-No. 4 Michigan State on January 27, 1979.
In a frustrating 8-23 campaign that included just three Big Ten wins, it was a night to enjoy for Buie, Nance and the rest of the Wildcats who learned a few tough lessons last season.
“We’re trying to change the narrative of what everyone thinks about us, that we can’t finish all this,” Nance said. “We’re just a very close group and we just like to play together and be out there with each other.”
The Spartans looked rusty in their first game of the week and only their second overall on December 6th. Virginia was supposed to play on December 9, but that game was postponed due to COVID-19 problems with the Cavaliers.
Aaron Henry scored 11 points for Michigan State (6-1), and Malik Hall finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. The Spartans shot only 39% (26-for-67) of the field.
Michigan State also had a scare when striker Joey Hauser left late in the first half with a left knee injury. But he came back at the start of the second half and finished with five points on the 2-on-7 shots. Northwestern led 21 to 61-40, with 11:57 left.
Michigan State responded with a 9-0 maneuver, including a three-point play by Henry, but Berry kept the Wildcats with a 3 with 8:47 left. Buie hit four wrong shots and a 3 in the last two minutes to help close it. The second-year guard went off the field 9 to 15, including a 5 to 6 performance outside the arc.
“Every time I step on the field, I just try to take what the game gives me, no matter if it may be scoring, finding my colleagues, driving or all of the above,” Buie said.
The state of Michigan looked rusty at first and a team from the fired Northwest took advantage.
Buie, who scored 26 career points in Northwestern’s 77-72 loss to Michigan in December last year, hit 3 points in a row to give the Wildcats a 34-23 lead, 3: 34 from the first half. Nance made another 3 with 51 seconds left, helping Northwestern to go 43-30 at the break.
The Spartans shot 35% (12-for-34) in the first half, compared to 52% (14-for-27) for the Wildcats.
“We just didn’t come to play,” said Michigan State Guard Joshua Langford. “We messed up a lot of defensive cover. We just [weren’t] there as a whole unit. “