Hastings at Northwestern

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The Red Raiders won their seventh straight game with an impressive 87-74 win over eighth-ranked Hastings College Saturday night. Northwestern, ranked 16th in the last poll, improved to 13-2 overall, 4-1 in the GPAC, and gave the Broncos their second straight loss and first in league play.

Coach Korver's squad took control early as they led by as much as eight, 22-14. Hastings battled back, however, and grabbed their first lead, 31-29, with five minutes left in the first half. The Broncos extended the lead to seven, 44-37, as Derrick Spooner nailed a three pointer at the buzzer as time expired in the first half.

Northwestern began the second half with a 15-6 run to retake the lead at 52-50. Hastings managed to tie the score at 52 but the Red Raiders grabbed the lead for good on a basket by Kale Wiertzema with 12:29 left to go in the contest. Leading by four (70-66) with just over five minutes to play, Northwestern went on a 9-1 run to increase the lead to double digits en route to the 13-point win.

The Red Raiders shot 49% from the field compared to 38% for Hastings. NWC also out-rebounded the Broncos, who came into the game as the second best rebounding team in the nation at +15, 41-33. Curt Schilling led four players in double figures with 20 points and nine rebounds. Kale Wiertzema netted 18 points and dished out six assists while Chad Schuiteman recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Stimson added 15 points including four three pointers.

Northwestern will next play USF in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Wednesday, Jan. 9.