No tie = good luck?

i don't know last night was the first time Carmody has gone tie-less in a game, but i'm pretty sure it won't be the last. NU rode good free throw shooting and timely threes to a shocking victory last night in the Breslin Center. despite the clutch shots down the stretch, i thought the key moment of the game was in the first half. NU fell behind 13-6 early and the Izzone could smell blood. but in less than two minutes the Wildcats made a quick 8-0 run that kept them in the game and really seemed to give them confidence.

the deficit was never more than than two in the second half, and Moore's ridiculous three with seven minutes left gave Northwestern a lead that they would never relinquish. i am not ready to get carried away and declare the season saved. but while it can't be ignored that Lucas and Allen combined for 13 turnovers and 3/14 from deep, and that an ailing Raymor Morgan played only 18 minutes without taking a shot, there is no question that this was a huge win. the team feels like they can play with anyone right now, and hopefully they can build on the last two games and avoid the backslide that often comes following a big victory.

there are a lot of numbers getting tossed around in the aftermath of last night's upset, some of which we talked about earlier this week. here are some more...

• First win on the road against a top ten team since 1953 and highest ranked road win ever


• First win at the Breslin Center and first in East Lansing since 1984


• Snapped State's 28 game home winning streak (had been third longest in nation)


• State had won 80 in a row against unranked teams at home (had been longest streak in nation; last loss was Toledo, Dec '02)


• Coble tied Moore for the best scoring performance by a Big Ten player this year (31 pts)


• First EVER back-to-back wins over ranked teams