Taphorn scores 18 to lead Northwestern over New Orleans (Dec 11, 2016)

By AP
Published

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Nathan Taphorn scored 18 points and Scottie Lindsey added 16 as Northwestern routed New Orleans 83-49 on Sunday night.

Gavin Skelly had 14 and Vic Law 11 for the Wildcats (7-2), who led by as much as 41 and have won four straight.

Erik Thomas had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Travin Thibodeaux added 10 points for New Orleans (4-4), whose three-game winning streak was snapped.

Northwestern shot 44 percent from the field to the Privateers' 37 percent, including 3 for 12 from beyond the arc. The Wildcats shot 9 of 25 on 3-pointers and scored 23 points off New Orleans' 21 turnovers.

After the Privateers scored the first two points of the second half, the Wildcats went on a 22-0 run to command a 65-24 lead. The run included two Bryant McIntosh free throws following a technical foul on New Orleans coach Mark Slessinger.

The Wildcats led 43-22 at halftime after shooting 46 percent from the field to New Orleans' 32 percent. Lindsey scored six of his 13 points during a 13-3 Wildcats run to extend the lead to 19. The Privateers committed 11 turnovers.

Northwestern improved to 3-0 against New Orleans and 11-1 versus the Southland Conference all-time.

INJURY UPDATE

Northwestern sophomore forward Aaron Falzon underwent season-ending knee surgery after he played just 20 minutes in three games this season. He is expected to seek a medical redshirt and would have three seasons of eligibility remaining. Falzon averaged 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 32 games last season. He also made 63 3-pointers, second-most in program history by a freshman.

BIG PICTURE

New Orleans was coming off a 70-54 victory at Washington State. Half of the Privateers' victories have been against non-Division I foes, LaGrange College and Florida College.

Northwestern improved to 6-0 at home. The Wildcats are in the middle of playing eight straight games in the Chicago area before beginning Big Ten play on Dec. 27 at Penn State.

UP NEXT

New Orleans will host Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.

Northwestern will face visiting Chicago State on Wednesday.