EVANSTON, Ill. -- Perhaps prematurely looking ahead to its marquee weekend, Northwestern nearly stumbled into a crushing midweek upset.The Wildcats needed several clutch baskets late Wednesday night to overcome a second-half deficit and defeat Chicago State 68-64.Vic Law led Northwestern (8-2) with 18 points, Sanjay Lumpkin had 11 rebounds and the Wildcats edged the Cougars for their fifth straight victory.Every time we started to get a little momentum, they came right back at us, Northwestern head coach Chris Collins said. Every time we threw a punch, they came with a counterpunch.Fred Sims Jr. and Trayvon Palmer led Chicago State (3-7) with 22 and 18 points, respectively. They sparked a 20-6 run that left the Cougars ahead 52-50 with 8:06 remaining.Northwestern, which led by 14 at one point, jumped back ahead 54-52 with 6:07 remaining on Bryant McIntoshs jumper, giving the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish.The win capped a perfect five-game homestand for the Wildcats, whose next game will be at the United Center in Chicago as part of the State Farm Chicago Legends. Illinois, BYU and Dayton are the other participants.I dont want to say we disrespected them because we didnt, Collins said when asked whether his team overlooked the Cougars. We prepared. But was our energy the same as its been in other games? I think we had some critical breakdowns tonight.Anthony Eaves 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining moved Chicago State within three, but Northwestern scored on its next possession to secure the victory.When you play a seasoned team, theyre going to find a way to win, Chicago State head coach Tracy Dildy said. And we just havent gotten there. When they needed a basket, they got that basket.The Cougars converted a season-best 13 3-pointers, and outrebounded Northwestern 40-33.McIntosh finished with 14 points and seven assists, and Scottie Lindsey scored 13.Northwestern is 11-0 all-time against Chicago State. The Wildcats set a season-high with 27 3-point attempts.Northwestern, which ranked among the Big Tens leaders with a plus-2.4 turnover margin entering the night, held a 12-0 halftime advantage in that category, but was minus-4 in the second half.A NIGHT OF MILESTONESLumpkin achieved several landmarks in Wednesdays game, starting both his 100th career game at Northwestern and recording his 500th career rebound.NOT QUITE NO. 1Dildy, in his seventh year as head coach of the Cougars, remains tied with Bob Hallberg for the most Division-I wins at Chicago State. His record with the Cougars is 49-152.BIG PICTUREChicago State: The Cougars are in the midst of a 12-game road swing that will take them through the calendar year. The Cougars, who will not return home until Jan. 5, are 1-5 through six games of the trip.Northwestern: The Wildcats finished their season-long homestand unblemished. The Wildcats, who do not open Big Ten play until Dec. 27 at Penn State, have won their last 19 nonconference home games.UP NEXTChicago State: On the road against DePaul on Saturday.Northwestern: Will face Dayton in Chicago on Saturday. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. http://www.ncaacheapjerseys.com/ .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Wholesale College Jerseys China . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Cheap Tom Brady Michigan Jersey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch.Joe Mellor says Super League leaders Widnes will be out to make a statement on Thursday as they seek a first away win over Wigan for 11 years. The 25-year-old Mellor has been in sensational form along with his half-back partner Kevin Brown as the Vikings have equalled their best ever start to a Super League campaign.In the bottom four at the end of 2015 and tipped for another battle against relegation, the Vikings have silenced their critics by winning five of their opening six matches and boast the best attack in Super League as well as the leading try-scorer in Corey Thompson. But Mellor knows they face an acid test of their title aspirations against the Warriors, who are one of only two clubs with 100 per cent records so far this year and, fresh from a demolition of defending champions Leeds, have the chance to take over top spot.I think a lot of people are surprised because of the way we performed last year and where we ended up in the league, but we had a really good pre-season and obviously took that into the season, said Mellor.Nobody is getting carried away because we know it could change, were just looking to turn up each week and perform the best we can. Barrie McDermott says hes been impressed with the Vikings performances this season Warrington-born Mellor, one of 16 Wigan academy products in the two squads for Thursdays game at the DW Stadium, is playing the best rugby of his career since joining Widnes.He made two Super League appearances for the Warriors in 2012 before being sidelined for nine months with a knee injury and went on to rebuild his career under Denis Betts, another former Wigan player.Im not bitter about anything, he said. Wigan have got a really good youth set-up and I enjoyed my time there and learned a lot.Denis gave me my opportunity and [Stefan] Marsh went on dual [registration] to Widnes as well the year before me. Widnes were emphatic 46-6 victors over Hull FC last Thursday Its a good pathway for us to get some game time but now I think well be able to attract some really good players to Widnes. Were up there and competing with the likes of Wigan these days.We do really want to go out and make a statement this week. I think last week was our biggest test of the season against Hull FC and this is going to be massive.While the Vikings are averaging 35 points a game, Wigan have the meanest defence having leaked just 66 points in five games.They are unbeaten against Super League opposition at the DW Stadium since June 2014 - not that coach Shaun Wane is taking his sides imppressive home record for granted.dddddddddddd Stefan Marsh, Corey Thompson, Denis Betts and Joe Mellor look ahead to Thursdays trip to Wigan Every club that comes to the DW poses a threat to it, Wane said. I dont get carried away with the fortress comments.We need to turn up mentally and be ready to defend our line like our life depends on it. We did that last week. Unfortunately we couldnt see the game out by nilling Leeds [winning 28-6] but well have to have the same attitude against Widnes. Wigan ran out 28-6 winners in their Grand Final rematch with Leeds Theyre playing really well. Theyre scoring some points and really attacking teams.They have an advantage with their home pitch but theyre also playing well away. The attacking shapes theyre showing with Joe Mellor, Kev Brown and Rhys Hanbury out the back are outstanding.Theyve done things to Leeds and Hull that we couldnt do. We beat them both but they werent convincing wins and Widnes have absolutely pumped both teams [56-12 and 46-6 respectively]. Wigan will give a late fitness test to George Williams Widnes are set to switch Chris Dean from the second row to centre to plug the gap caused by the loss of Chris Bridge with a neck injury, while Setaimata Sa and Gil Dudson are both pushing for recalls.Wigan will give late fitness tests to stand-off George Williams, who pulled out of last weeks win over Leeds with a back problem, and second rower Liam Farrell, who is nursing a shoulder injury.Second rower Nick Gregson keeps his place in the squad after making his debut against the Rhinos and Wane may give a debut to prop Joe Bretherton if Farrell is ruled out.Wigan Warriors: John Bateman, Joe Bretherton, Gregg Burke, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Liam Farrell, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Nick Gregson, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sean OLoughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, George Williams.Widnes Vikings: Kevin Brown, Hep Cahill, Chris Dean, Gil Dudson, Alex Gerrard, Tom Gilmore, Rhys Hanbury, Aaron Heremaia, Chris Houston, Macgraff Leuluai, Manase Manuokafoa, Stefan Marsh, Joe Mellor, Eamon OCarroll, Charly Runciman, Setaimata Sa, Corey Thompson, Lloyd White, Matt Whitley.Watch Wigan v Widnes live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Thursday from 7.30pm. 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