Dec. 28--The formula for Tre Demps was simple: See the opportunity, seize the opportunity.
Same for Nathan Taphorn.
Demps' layup teased the top of the rim three times Saturday before bouncing in at the first-half buzzer as Northwestern began to kick up dust on Northern Kentucky during a 76-55 victory, the Wildcats' third in a row.
Demps, who had a game-high 23 points and six rebounds, had steal and layup with 4:57 left in the first half to begin Northwestern's 18-2 run that spilled into the second half. His last-second first-half dandy gave the Wildcats a 36-24 halftime lead.
Taphorn followed Demps' formula when came off the bench to give the Wildcats their first lead, 10-9, with 10:46 left in the first half. He gave NU another lead when he drained a 3-pointer to make it 12-10.
Early returns suggested the Wildcats would struggle against the Norse. Twice the Wildcats committed shot-clock violations and Gavin Skelly missed a wide-open dunk with 7 minutes, 11 seconds left and his team down 19-17.
"I think we were kind of on our heels a little bit at the start of the game," NU coach Chris Collins said.
The Norse led 5-0, the teams traded the lead 11 times and four times were tied. The Wildcats were 18-for-18 from the free-throw line.
Bryant McIntosh had 15 points and five rebounds for NU. Todd Johnson scored 14 to lead the Norse.
Next stop for the Wildcats: Piscataway, N.J., on Tuesday for their Big Ten opener against Rutgers.
After that is a home game against conference favorite Wisconsin on Jan. 4, when Badgers big man Frank Kaminsky will square off against his high school teammate at Benet, Wildcats guard Dave Sobolewski.
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