CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois coach John Groce could only say one thing after his team defeated Northwestern 66-50 on Tuesday night.
"That was exhausting, another war," Groce said.
The remarks came after a tight contest where the deficit didn't grow larger than four points for much of the game. Both teams continued to battle for the first 10 minutes of the second half until Northwestern suffered an eight-minute scoring drought and Illinois built its lead to double digits for the first time.
Malcolm Hill, who led the way with 18 points, spearheaded Illinois' second-half push. The senior scored 13 points in the second half and helped lead a defense that limited Northwestern to 18 second-half points.
Illinois (16-12, 6-9 Big Ten) controlled the pace for much of the game, including offensively where the Illini shot 40 percent from the field and 6 of 18 from 3-point range.
The strong offensive and defensive performances have been something Groce and his players knew was a key in defeating Northwestern for a second time this season.
"Everyone has been working really hard and it's paying off," Maverick Morgan said.
Leron Black had a strong presence, scoring seven of the Illini's first eight points. He finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Seven Illini scored five points or better.
The group effort has been something Groce has reiterated throughout the season. Illinois has won three of its last four games, but the coach knows his team can't look far ahead.
"You get up at eight o'clock in the morning ." Groce said. "I wish there was some fancy process, but it's just trusting the process."
Bryant McIntosh led the way for Northwestern (20-8, 9-6) with 16 points and was the lone bright spot for the team.
While the guard continued to push his team, his teammates failed to respond and McIntosh eventually became too tired to help carry the Wildcats at the end.
"We didn't have that fight we normally have," Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. "When you're playing a team that's fighting the way Illinois was fighting, they're going to make you look bad if you don't match that, and we didn't match it tonight."
The Wildcats shot well from the field, 32 percent, but failed to take advantage of the numerous open 3-point opportunities, shooting 4 of 18.
Scottie Lindsey scored two points and had two rebounds in 22 minutes in his second game back from injury.
The Wildcats will need a stronger performance from Lindsey and others if the team wants to make a strong push for its first NCAA Tournament berth. With three games left, Collins knows it's time to sprint to the finish.
"It's not a marathon anymore," Collins said. "I would hope our guys are excited about that."
UP NEXT
Illinois heads back to the road for a Sunday evening game at Nebraska (6:30 pm CT on BTN).
ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
- Illinois improved to 16-12 overall and 6-9 in Big Ten play with a 66-50 win over Northwestern on Tuesday night.
- The win, combined with a 68-61 win in Evanston on Feb. 7, gives the Illini a regular season sweep over Northwestern.
- The Illini lead the overall series vs. the Wildcats, 134-40, and hold a 41-6 edge at State Farm Center.
- The Illini have won three of their last four game and two straight.
- Illinois nearly led wire-to-wire, trailing just once in the game (3-2) and leading for the final 37:42.
- Northwestern had season lows in points (50), second-half points (18), field goal percentage (32.2%), field goals made (18), assists (5) and blocks (0)
- The Wildcat's previous season low field-goal percentage was also against Illinois (33.9%) on Feb. 7.
- Illinois held Northwestern without a field goal for 9:16 in the second half (10:27-1:11) and to just five total field goals and 18.5 percent shooting in the second half (5-27).
- The 16-point win over Northwestern tied the Illini's largest margin of victory in a Big Ten game this season (16 vs. Michigan, 1/11/17).
- The 16-point loss is Northwestern's second-largest loss this season (21 at Purdue, 2/1/17).
- Illinois' 42 rebounds is tied for the most in a Big Ten game by the Illini this season (Ohio State, Minnesota).
- Northwestern scored 18 points in the second half, a season low for a half for the Wildcats. It was also Illinois' least points allowed in a half this season (21, first half vs. VCU, 12/3/16).
- Illinois had its second-fewest turnovers in a Big Ten game (8) this season (3 at Purdue, 1/17/17).
- Illinois has held opponents to under 40 percent shooting in four of the last five games and nine times overall this season.
Individual Notes
- Senior Malcolm Hill is tied with Demetri McCamey at No. 6 on the Illinois all-time scoring list with 1,718 career points.
- With 18 points tonight, Hill has scored in double-figures in 22 straight games.
- Redshirt-sophomore Leron Black scored in double-figures (11) for the first time since Jan. 25 against Iowa.
- Black had nine points in the first half on 4-of-9 shooting.
- Freshman Kipper Nichols had a career-high three blocks, the most by an Illini this season.
- Senior Maverick Morgan pulled down 10 rebounds, his fourth double-digit rebound game of the season, and added nine points to just miss out on his fourth double-double of the season.
