Hot-shooting Wildcats zip past Jackets to stay unbeaten; Northwestern 91, Georgia Tech 71

Northwestern freshman JerShon Cobb is a native of Decatur, Ga., so it wasn't surprising when he said he knows half of Georgia Tech's team. But it was surprising when he downplayed the significance of the Wildcats' 91-71 victory Tuesday against the Yellow Jackets in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

''I wouldn't say it was a big game, but it was fun and I looked forward to it,'' said Cobb (10 points), who chose NU over Georgia Tech. ''I always thought I chose the right school. I never had a doubt in my mind.''

The Wildcats, who shot 65 percent (31-for-48), improved to 5-0 for the first time since the 1993-94 season, when they opened 9-0. Considering some of its nonconference opponents, NU might have gotten its first taste of a high-caliber team in Georgia Tech (4-3).

''Maybe it is [an easy schedule], but you play according to your team and who you can get,'' Wildcats coach Bill Carmody said. ''Creighton [whom NU beat 65-52 on Sunday] could win 20 games, and we're trying to build and get better.''

Center Luka Mirkovic (11 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) thought he made significant improvement from his play in the Creighton game.

''In the first half, I was able to get the ball down low and score a few baskets,'' Mirkovic said. ''In the second half, they were double-teaming me. I realized I had to push back and try to look for the shooters. Luckily, I play with amazing shooters.''

The Wildcats' 1-3-1 defense held Brian Oliver, the Yellow Jackets' leading scorer at 15.8 points a game, to three points on 1-for-9 shooting and Oak Park native Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech's second-leading scorer at 14.2 points a game, to 11 points on 5-for-14 shooting.

''When we picked it up defensively, they kept making shots,'' Shumpert said. ''[We] got a hand in a guy's face, and he still knocked them down.''

The Yellow Jackets scored the first 11 points and led 13-5 before NU's offense woke up. The Wildcats tied it at 15 on a three-pointer by forward John Shurna (21 points on 7-for-8 shooting), then took a 20-18 lead on a three-pointer by guard Alex Marcotullio (13 points).

But NU wasn't done. The Wildcats used a 17-2 run to open a 55-37 halftime lead, and Georgia Tech never got close.

NOTES: Guard Michael ''Juice'' Thompson notched his 400th career assist in the first half. He finished the game at 403 and is 50 away from breaking the school record (452) held by Patrick Baldwin (1991-94).

- The Wildcats' next game isn't until Dec. 13 at Welsh-Ryan Arena against Long Island.