ddddddd The first two goals were like this -- one was a transition, the other

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern coach Chris Collins loved the way his team played in the first half Saturday against DePaul.The Wildcats were efficient on offense as they raced out to a big lead.He wasnt so fond of the ending.Northwestern built a 36-point halftime lead before DePaul outscored the Wildcats 46-26 in a foul-ridden second half as reserves took the court.The ball was moving. We were sharing it. With the score, we did not play as well in the second half, Collins said. Give DePaul credit. A lot of it had to do with them. They kept fighting.Scottie Lindsey scored 19 points and Vic Law had 16 as Northwestern beat DePaul 80-64.Gavin Skelly added 15 points and Sanjay Lumpkin had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats (6-2), who have won three straight.Derrick Wood scored 15 points and Joe Hanel and Billy Garrett Jr. added 11 apiece for DePaul, which saw its three-game winning streak end. The Blue Demons (4-2) shot just 33 percent from the field and went 2 for 20 from beyond the arc.Severe disappointment, DePaul coach Dave Leitao said. Our performance today, I have to go back a long way to be a part of a first half like that.The Wildcats had little trouble despite losing their starting center earlier in the week. Freshman Barret Benson started in place of Dererk Pardon, who is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the non-conference schedule after undergoing surgery on his non-shooting hand. Pardon, who averages 6.9 points and 7.0 rebounds, was injured Monday in a victory over Wake Forest.Benson had five points in foul trouble in his first career start.He did a great job. Dererks going to be out for a while, Collins said. Were going to need him to continue to progress in his role.Skelly also helped inside and was 5 of 7 from the field.Northwestern led 54-18 at halftime after shooting 54 percent from the field to DePauls 24 percent. Lindsey led all scorers with 16 points and was 4 of 5 from beyond the arc for the Wildcats, who led by as much as 39.The Wildcats opened the game with a 32-8 lead before Hanels layup ended a 25-2 Wildcats run.Theyre only a couple plays away from being undefeated, and they play like that, Leitao said.BIG PICTURENorthwestern continues solid non-conference play as it aims for its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament after winning a school-record 20 games last season. The Wildcats upset then-No. 22 Texas on Nov. 21, and their two losses were by a combined six points to No. 18 Butler and Notre Dame.DePaul, which went 9-22 last season, lost its first road game after edging Missouri State and Drake by two points apiece.HE SAID ITIt makes us harder to guard because we have so many different guys that can put the ball in the hoop, Lindsey said of Northwesterns balanced offense.STAT OF THE GAMENorthwestern made 19 baskets and had 18 assists in the first half.UP NEXTDePaul hosts Lamar on Tuesday.Northwestern faces New Orleans on Dec. 11.Dominique Wilkins Jersey Large . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Hawks Jerseys China . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. http://www.customhawksjersey.com/ .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Authentic Custom Hawks Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Custom Hawks Jersey China . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals.In any top-flight league around the world, the title-winning sides always have one defining characteristic, aside from talent, and that is consistency -- in their level of play and their results.Over the past few seasons, Liverpool have been the opposite of consistent. They have the high-priced talent, but have not been able to collect positive results often enough to merit being considered legitimate Premier League title contenders.Jurgen Klopps Reds will continue their search for consistency on Saturday as they travel to White Hart Lane for a lunch-time clash with Tottenham Hotspur.Klopps high-pressing style of play hasnt quite taken full effect at Liverpool, and the Reds were content to keep possession against Burnley last week -- recording an astounding 81 percent. However, they were burned on a pair of perfectly executed counter-attacks which resulted in goals by Andre Grey and Sam Vokes.The defence has been a consistent problem for the Reds, and it showed again last Saturday as Klopp replaced left-back Alberto Moreno with an out-of-position James Milner. Liverpool have conceded five goals in their opening two fixtures, which is the highest total theyve allowed in that span since 2012-13.But they bounced back nicely in midweek with a 5-0 thumping of Burton Alboin in the newly-named EFL Cup, thanks to a pair of goals from Daniel Sturridge, and one each from Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino.When I saw the (Burnley) game again, there were a few situations where we missed a little sharpness, Klopp said. But the main problem was that with one more pass we were 15 times completely free in the box. In the game, we didnt see it, so we needed to use this. Thats what we did today and it was better.We were there, where we had to be. We were on thhe line; we had possession (around) the box and bodies in the box.dddddddddddd The first two goals were like this -- one was a transition, the other one after a second ball. So, it was all good.The club also received some defencive reinforcements as centre-back Joel Matip, who arrived this summer from Schalke, made his debut in the win over Burton.I feel very good after the time with my injury. Its getting better and better, Matip told the clubs official website. It was not the best time (while I was injured). For a player its always hard when youre injured and cannot go at 100 per cent. Its good to be back. I will need some time, but I will get better.Tottenham are unbeaten in their first two matches, and claimed three points with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last week thanks to a lone strike from Victor Wanyama. Spurs will be aiming to start a season unbeaten in three for the first time since 2009-10.I dont remember if I ran or not, the Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said of his reaction to Wanyamas wining strike. Its emotion. We were very close to scoring in the first half, the second half the same and when you score in the 84th minute its impossible to keep calm.Despite welcoming Liverpool to the Lane, if theres one team that has given Spurs fits over the past few seasons, it is the boys from the red half of Merseyside. Spurs are winless in their last seven meetings with Liverpool, and have been outscored 8-0 over the last three in north London.The sides drew both matchups last season, scoreless at White Hart Lane in October, and a 1-1 stalemate in April with goals from Philippe Coutinho and Harry Kane. ' ' '