EVANSTON, IL — The game of basketball is and always will be a game defined by runs, and there can be no debate in identifying the run that defined this particular game.
On Thursday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Northwestern had just surged into its most commanding lead of the night against the visiting Minnesota Golden Gophers at 47-40 with 13:45 to play, when the current of the game changed with all the staggering immediacy of a plug being pulled from an outlet.
The Wildcats offensive tempo slowed to a walking pace. Their off-ball movement went from tight and sharp to loose and labored.