Northwestern-Indiana player grades

On Sunday, Northwestern extended its winning streak to six games with a convincing 68-55 victory over Indiana. Led by Bryant McIntosh’s 21 points, the Wildcats moved to 7-2 in Big Ten play, sitting third in the conference. Here’s how each individual played against the Hoosiers.

Bryant McIntosh - A

21 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal on 7 of 13 FG, 2 of 4 3FG, 5 of 6 FT in 37 minutes

Aside from the turnovers, McIntosh had a tremendous game. His aggression offensively created scoring opportunities for himself, as well as his teammates. When McIntosh has it rolling like he did tonight, Northwestern looks nearly unstoppable.

Sanjay Lumpkin - A-

15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals on 4 of 6 FG, 1 of 2 3FG, 6 of 7 FT in 38 minutes

Lumpkin not only had the top two highlights of the night (his fast-break dunk and dream shake, both while being defended by Thomas Bryant), but also did his usual dirty work. His off-ball cuts and work around the basket earned him easy buckets and even a few trips to the charity stripe. His activity on defense also helped disrupt Indiana’s offense, one of the best in the country.

Scottie Lindsey - B

12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover on 6/14 FG, 0/4 3FG in 28 minutes

After a rough first half, Lindsey came out and helped the Wildcats secure their win, scoring eight points after the break. He couldn’t get his outside shot to fall, so he drove to the basket, finishing a few tough layups. Lindsey has been dealing with back issues recently, which might explain why he hasn’t been so explosively offensively in the past couple of games.

Vic Law - B

9 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 steal on 2/12 FG, 1/5 3FG, 4/6 FT in 39 minutes

Law played nearly the entire game, and while his shooting numbers were poor, he got it done defensively and on the glass. With Bryant wreaking havoc down low for the Hoosiers, Law got his hands dirty, chasing nearly every defensive rebound. It’s nice to see Law remaining engaged in games, even when he’s not putting up gaudy scoring numbers.

Dererk Pardon - B

0 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks in 24 minutes

Without taking a single shot, Pardon still had an impact on the game. He made Bryant work for his points and cleaned the glass, and he probably would’ve played more had he not gotten in foul trouble. Since Pardon’s return from injury, Northwestern has gone 6-1, in large part due to his interior presence.

Nate Taphorn - B

5 points on 2/3 FG, 1/2 3FG in 7 minutes

Taphorn left the game in the first half with an ankle injury and didn’t return. In his short stint, he played well, though, hitting a corner three and converting a driving layup. After the game, Chris Collins said they will run more tests on Taphorn’s ankle, but he doesn’t think the injury is too serious.

Barret Benson - B

4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 blocks on 2/3 FG in 13 minutes

Due to foul trouble, Benson was inserted into the game in the first half, matching up with Bryant. Despite the talent and experience difference, the freshman played admirably, holding his own on the block on both ends. Benson’s steady improvement over the season is an encouraging sign for the future.

Isiah Brown - C-

2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal on 0/3 FG, 0/1 3FG, 2/2 FT in 9 minutes

Brown didn’t do anything memorable in this game other than miss a wide open layup. His shot just wasn’t falling, and when that happens, it’s hard for Brown to make a serious impact on a game. Because of his shooting struggles, Collins pulled him quickly.

Gavin Skelly - D

0 points, 1 rebound, 1 turnover on 0/2 FG in 5 minutes

Tonight wasn’t Skelly’s night, especially given Indiana’s size in the post. In the first half, he picked up two quick fouls, and in the second, he had his only shot attempt blocked. With Benson having the better game, Collins chose to ride the freshman, which meant Skelly didn’t see much time.