November 21, 1998

Stats

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP)- Northwestern hit the Oakland Grizzlies with an 18-point blitz at the outset of Saturday's game on route to a 68-30 victory.

The 30 points were the fewest ever scored by an Oakland team. It was also the least amount of points allowed by the Wildcats since 1950.

Evan Eschmeyer paced the Wildcats (1-1) with 19 points and 13 rebounds; Tavaras Hardy added 18 points and 10 boards.

Oakland (1-3) shot 16 percent in the first half, making just four of 25 field goal attempts. The Golden Grizzlies also turned the ball over 12 times and were outrebounded 26-19.

The Wildcats led at the intermission, 40-13. The 13 points tied a Welsh-Ryan Arena record for fewest points at the half.

For the game, Oakland shot 20 percent and was outrebounded 53-33.

The game was over by 13:32 of the first half when Eschmeyer converted one of two free throws for the 18-0 lead.

Oakland finally scored at 13:22 on a free throw by Dan Champagne. And when Champagne scored the first Golden Grizzlies basket at 9:29, Northwestern had a 26-3 advantage.

A three-pointer by Sean Wink with 9:31 left to play gave the Wildcats their biggest lead, 59-22.

Before Saturday, the least points scored by Oakland had been 34 in a loss to Ferris State on Feb. 15, 1990. The fewest points allowed by Northwestern had been 31 to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in 1983.