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Northwestern edges Vanderbilt, will face Gonzaga in second round

Northwestern Wildcats forward Vic Law (4) shoots the ball during the second half of a first round NCAA men
Northwestern Wildcats forward Vic Law (4) shoots the ball during the second half of a first round NCAA men's college basketball tournament game, Thurs., March 16, 2017, at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY – Northwestern got its first NCAA Tournament victory, 68-66 over Vanderbilt, after Commodores guard Matthew Fisher-Davis inexplicably grabbed Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh on purpose, sending McIntosh to the free throw line for the go-ahead points with 15 seconds left.

Riley LaChance made a layup with 18 seconds remaining in Thursday’s game to put the ninth-seeded Commodores up by one after trailing by as many as 15.

But seconds after the in-bounds pass, Fisher-Davis reached out and grabbed McIntosh while he was in the backcourt. That put eighth-seeded Northwestern in the double bonus, and McIntosh went to the line and calmly swished the free throws with 15 seconds left.

LaChance missed a 3 on the next possession and eighth-seeded Northwestern (24-11) got another free throw.