Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, March 9, 2017

WASHINGTON — The Cinderella story keeps getting better. Northwestern?s NCAA ticket already is stamped, but the Wildcats want to build some mojo after going 3-6 down the stretch. NU?s 22 wins are a school single-season record. And its 10 conference victories are the most since 1932-33. And on it goes in this magical ride.

And it continues, as the No. 6 Wildcats-the program?s highest seed ever–took down No. 14 Rutgers, 83-61, in their opening Big Ten tourney game, pushing on to play No. 3 Maryland on Thursday. Everyone got a chance to get in on the action for NU on this night.

Here's the best from Northwestern's easy win.

Top star: Vic Law, Northwestern. He hit 5-of-6 shots for 16 points to go with four assists and five boards. He was active and impactful.

Top stat: 31, consecutive points scored by Northwestern in the first half, marking the largest run in Big Ten men's basketball history.

Top dunk: Scottie Lindsey was streaking down the left wing when he spotted Vic Law angling toward the rim on the right wing. Lindsey lofted a perfect pass to the edge of the rim that Law caught and crushed into the rim to give the Wildcats a 30-9 lead.

It was over when: Rutgers had a lead at one point in this game. Then Northwestern went on a 31-0- run to take a 37-9 edge, capped by a Sanjay Lumpkin dunk with 6:18 left in the first half. Finally, Nigel Johnson of Rutgers hit a 3-pointer to get the Scarlet Knights to double-digits and break NU?s run. But, it was too late. The Wildcats led 42-24 at halftime and never looked back.

Did you see that? Northwestern alums Brad Hall and Julia Louis-Dreyfus were in attendance to watch their son Charlie Hall. Bonus, Hall got in the game and grabbed two boards.

Notable:

  • This was Northwestern?s third win of the season vs. Rutgers.
  • Rutgers notched its first ever Big Ten tourney win on Wednesday by taking down No. 10 Ohio State. It was the first time a No. 14 seed had won a game in the Big Ten tourney.
  • RU?s season is over, but the program appears to be on track under Steve Pikiell, as the Scarlet Knights doubled their win total from last year (7 to 14).