ROSEMONT, Ill. _ Northwestern's previous game at Allstate Arena had the atmosphere of an empty lecture hall. And about the same number of undergrads.
So forward Gavin Skelly pledged to do something about it, saying: "I will bring the students. I know a lot of plugs."
Plugs, as in people who are connected.
The atmosphere Wednesday against Creighton did not resemble Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Duke mecca where NU coach Chris Collins went from a boy to a man. But it was better than Monday. Livelier.
And those who came got their money's worth. The game's frenetic pace helped. As did the sight of Collins blowing his top.
In the end, the Wildcats could not overcome an eight-point halftime deficit, falling 92-88 to drop to 2-1 after their first real test of the season.
Skelly nailed a 3 with 17.7 seconds to play, cutting Creighton's lead to 90-88. But after two Khyri Thomas free throws, Northwestern had an empty possession that concluded with a Vic Law air ball.
Law finished with a game-high 30 points on 11-for-19 shooting, and Bryant McIntosh had 24 points and nine assists. Thomas led Creighton (3-0) with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
After Northwestern beat Saint Peter's on Monday, Collins called this a "high-level" game featuring two teams expected to make the NCAA Tournament. SI.com projected Creighton as a No. 9 seed before the season and Northwestern a No. 6.
The Gavitt Games (Big Ten versus Big East) duel was played before a host of NBA scouts (17 were credentialed), many of whom stuck around after Tuesday's Champions Classic doubleheader at the United Center.
In warmups, Skelly took note of the decent turnout by NU students. A couple of hundred, perhaps, made the 40-minute trip from Evanston, Ill.
Collins could not have enjoyed the first half much.
At times Creighton scored at will. The Bluejays took a 51-43 lead to the locker room after hitting 20 of 36 shots with 11 assists and just four turnovers.
NU's bench was sure the Wildcats had caused a turnover when Isiah Brown stepped in front of Marcus Foster to draw a charge. Instead, it was called a block.
Collins could not believe it, saying: "I know you guys are Big East refs, but holy cow, that was bad."
Law caught fire in the second half, scoring 12 straight NU points in the span of just over two minutes. His four-point play gave the Wildcats a 56-55 lead, and he drained another 3 as he backed into the arms of teammates on the bench.
