Ryan Langborg scored 20 points and Brooks Barnhizer had a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds to lift host Northwestern to a 76-62 win against Michigan on Thursday in Evanston, Ill.
Northwestern (19-8, 10-6 Big Ten) clinched consecutive seasons with double-digit conference wins for the first time in program history.
There were personal milestones for home fans to salute at Welsh-Ryan Arena as well. Boo Buie surpassed John Shurna as Northwestern’s all-time leading scorer when he hit a 3-pointer with 9:59 to go in the first half. Buie finished with 16 points for the Wildcats, who defeated Michigan (8-19, 3-13) for the first time since February 2018.
Michigan sizzled from beyond the 3-point arc, finishing 8-for-11, but was unable to overcome 11 turnovers and a minus-nine margin on the glass.
Nimari Burnett scored 15 points to lead the Wolverines. Terrance Williams II and Tarris Reed Jr. both had 13 points and Tray Jackson added 10.
Michigan’s spirited start from the floor coupled with rough beginnings for Northwestern allowed the Wolverines to take a 16-5 lead 6:37 into the game.
Northwestern rallied back, though, as Buie’s scooping layup with 1:27 left in the first half tied the game at 34. A slick inbounds play set up Langborg for a go-ahead, buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the left baseline to send the Wildcats into the locker room with a 37-34 lead.
Burnett scored eight points to key a 10-2 run that put Michigan ahead 44-43 with 15:36 to go, but the Wildcats soon regained the advantage for good. Langborg drained transition treys on consecutive possessions to cap an 8-0 surge.
The Wolverines, who trailed by as many as 20 points, never came closer than five the rest of the way.
Nick Martinelli grabbed nine boards for Northwestern. Williams was Michigan’s top rebounder with seven, and Buie had a game-high seven assists.
Michigan fell to 1-7 in Big Ten road games.
Michigan point guard Dug McDaniel, the team’s top scorer at 16.6 points a game, was ineligible for one final road game as part of an academic-related suspension. Olivier Nkamhoua, who recently underwent season-ending surgery on his left wrist, also was out, while Will Tschetter missed the game with an illness.
–Field Level Media