EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) -- Vedran Vukusic scored 14 points on his 22nd birthday as Northwestern defeated Seton Hall 53-44 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Vukusic scored seven points in a decisive 8-0 Northwestern run in the second half erasing a short-lived Pirates lead and securing the Wildcats third straight win. Vukusic played all forty minutes finishing with seven rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks.
The Pirates shot just 28.6 percent from the field and made 4-of-18 3-pointers. No Seton Hall players scored in double figures.
Northwestern (4-4) looked sharp with 14 assists on 19 baskets. The Wildcats shot 53.8 percent in the second half and 41.3 percent for the game. Their only weakness was at the free-throw line where they hit just 10-of-22 shots.
The Pirates (4-3) opened the game with two quick 3-pointers but missed their next six as the Wildcats conceded the outside shot and built a 29-22 halftime lead. Seton Hall finally connected from outside when J.R. Morris and Donald Copeland hit consecutive 3-point shots to give Seton Hall a 37-36 lead with 9:22 left in the game.
Northwestern point guard T. J. Parker and Seton Hall center Grant Billmeier then traded baskets before Vukusic hit a layup and a 3-pointer to make it 43-39. After a Parker free throw, Vukusic scored on a rebound of Davor Duvancic's 3-point miss to make it 46-39.
Seton Hall freshman Justin Cerasoli scored four straight points to keep the Pirates close but Northwestern center Mike Thompson hit two free-throws after missing five in a row and the Wildcats hit 5-8 from the line to close out the win.
Andre Sweet, Cerasoli, Copeland and Morris each had eight points to lead the Pirates. Thompson had 12 points and nine rebounds, and Parker had 13 points and four assists for the Wildcats.
