HAMMOND, Ind. – Purdue Northwest fended off Northwood's bid for a late miracle and closed the weekend sweep over the Timberwolves with an 83-79 victory Saturday inside the Fitness & Recreation Center.

With the win, PNW improved to 5-4 (5-4 GLIAC) and tied its own team record for most league wins since becoming a member of NCAA Division II. The Pride also won their fifth straight over Northwood which fell to 4-5 (4-5 GLIAC) on the season.
 
"We talk a lot about growing as men and as a team, and tonight was a huge opportunity to learn and grow," PNW head coach Boomer Roberts said. "(Northwood's) Lowden and Ammerman made some big plays, and we didn't handle it well initially. But with a minute to go, we got two big stops, executed, and Jyro (Jyrus Freels) and Tripps (Gregory Boyle) cashed four big free throws. That's how you win close games."
 
AB (Anthony Barnard) was really good, and we needed every bit of Vince's double-double. I thought Kell (Mikell Cooper) and X (Xavier Allison) were really mature all weekend, making sure we got good shots, and Logan Phillips made a huge play down the stretch to help us regain momentum. Our guys are working hard and they are hungry, and it showed this weekend."
 
Barnard led PNW with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting as the junior knocked down a season-best three 3-pointers and went 5 for 5 at the free-throw line.
 
Also leading the way, Vincent Miszkiewicz tied his season-high with 15 points and hauled down 15 rebounds for his fourth double-double. The sophomore forward continues to lead the conference in rebounding with 10.7 boards per game.
 
Veterans Jyrus Freels and Gregory Boyle were clutch at the line as each finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Freels also dished out a team-high three assists on the day. Mikell Cooper chipped in with eight points while Xavier Allison had seven.
 
PNW grabbed its largest lead of the game when Cooper's free throws made it 73-56 at the 8:24 mark, and the Pride seemed well on their way to victory.
 
However, Northwood didn't go quietly and stormed back to tie the game at 77-77 with under three minutes remaining after a 10-0 run that featured a pair of threes.
 
PNW responded as the teams traded baskets with freshman Logan Phillips coming up with a huge driving layup to stop the bleeding.
 
Northwood had opportunities to take the lead near the end of the contest but missed its final three shot attempts and had a shot-clock violation in the final minute.
 
Then, Freels and Boyle each stepped up to the line and buried two free throws in the final 19 seconds to seal the win.
 
Free throws were a key stat line in the matchup as PNW finished 23 of 28 (82%). The visitors only earned eight trips to the line all night.
 
In the first half, Northwood raced out to a 15-5 lead in response to yesterday's loss and led the majority of the period. However, PNW slowly got back in it by attacking the paint and getting to the line where the Pride went 13 of 18 in the first 20 minutes.
 
Allison's layup put the Pride up three in the closing seconds but NU's Trevor Davis drained a corner trey at the halftime buzzer to knot the score 39-39 at the break.  
PNW blitzed Northwood in the second half and came out the gates with a 19-5 run while making an impressive 8 of 10 shots from the field. Barnard led the charge with seven points.
 
PNW held a 35-27 advantage in rebounding and outscored the Timberwolves 42-34 on points in the paint. Overall the Pride shot 54 percent from the field, including a 59-percent mark in the second half. Northwood finished shooting at a 48-percent clip overall.
 
Evan Lowden paced three Timberwolves in double digits with a game-high 23 points on 11-of-17 shooting. He also grabbed a team-high eight boards. Jack Ammerman added four threes and finished with 19 points.
 
NEXT UP
PNW travels to Detroit next weekend for a pair of league games against Wayne State. Friday's tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. CST and Saturday's matchup is set for a 1 p.m. CST tipoff.