Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern hang on against UNLV

Brooks Barnhizer pumped in 23 points as Northwestern defeated UNLV 66-61 in the third-place game of the Arizona Tip-Off on Friday at Tempe, Ariz.

Barnhizer sank four 3-point shots and contributed team highs of nine rebounds and six assists.

Barnhizer has scored 20 or more points in three of his four games this season.

Jalen Leach chipped in 15 points and Nick Martinelli had 12 for the Wildcats (6-2), who shot only 40.8 percent from the floor.

Dedan Thomas Jr.'s 17 points and Jailen Bedford's 15 were tops for UNLV (4-3), which made only 6-of-18 shots from 3-point range. The Rebels also were dinged by 14 turnovers and went cold on offense at the wrong time.

UNLV stayed within range despite scoring only six points in a six-minute stretch late in the game. They added seven points in the last 30 seconds after Northwestern had the game in control.

Northwestern looked to be in good shape after Martinelli's 3-pointer with less than two minutes left for a 58-51 lead. But Bedford countered with a 3 for UNLV.

Barnhizer answered with a three-point play with 1:12 remaining for a 61-54 Wildcats lead.

UNLV missed its next two shots, including a dunk, before Northwestern's Ty Berry hit a free throw with 38 seconds to play for his only point.

The Rebels were hurt by 42.1 percent shooting from the field despite eight more attempts than Northwestern. UNLV had a chance to come back late unlike a day earlier against No. 25 Mississippi State.

Northwestern posted an 18-6 advantage in points at the free-throw line. The teams combined for 25 offensive rebounds, with UNLV collecting 13.

Northwestern, coming off a two-point loss to Butler on Thanksgiving, led 26-25 at halftime by wiping out a seven-point edge for the Rebels.

--Field Level Media