CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- John Shurna was the best college basketball player on the floor on the floor at Assembly Hall on Sunday.

Meyers Leonard had an outstanding game -- shooting 10-of-12 from the field and scoring 21 points -- and undoubtedly has a greater NBA upside than Shurna. Even Brandon Paul may ultimately be a better pro.

But on Sunday in a college basketball setting, Shurna stood above them all in Northwestern's 74-70 win over Illinois.

In the first half, it appeared as if the challenge was too large for Shurna. Just like in the second half of the teams’ first meeting, Paul attached himself to Shurna and allowed him little space. Shurna had scored three points in the second half of Northwestern’s 57-56 loss on Jan. 4, and his struggles continued early Sunday, scoring just seven first-half points.

Shurna looked passive throughout the first half, taking only whatever Northwestern’s offense gave him and not looking to create anything for himself. He even once uncharacteristically appeared frustrated. While posting up, he and Paul got tangled, Shurna threw his arm up, nearly connected an elbow with Paul and was whistled for an offensive foul.

Former walk-on Reggie Hearn kept Northwestern in the game while Shurna was quiet. Hearn went off for 16 points in the first half and helped Northwestern to a 36-33 halftime lead. But eventually, it was assumed Hearn would cool off, and the Wildcats would need Shurna to produce something more if they had any chance to steal a win at Illinois.

Just as expected, Illinois flew out of the gates in the second half. The Illini went on a 9-2 run to open the half and took their largest lead of the game at 42-38 with 11:51 remaining in the game.

It was put up or shut up for Shurna and Northwestern. The Wildcats’ window of opportunity at an NCAA tournament berth has been closing over the last few weeks, and Sunday’s game was a much-needed road win after losing already twice at home in the Big Ten.

Just as Illinois was looking to put Northwestern away for good, something clicked in Shurna.
Shurna, who isn’t much for talking about himself, explained it this way afterward, “There was a time where we were getting good looks, but the ball wasn’t falling for us. I was trying to be aggressive and help the team out, trying to get to the basket, just get good looks.”

This is what happened.

He drained a 3-pointer to pull Northwestern within 42-41. Leonard answered with a basket, and Shurna came right back at Illinois, driving into the lane, pulling up from 10 feet and sinking a shot while Illinois’ Sam Maniscalco hung on his arm.

Illinois went back up 46-43, and Shurna answered again with a drive and layup. Illinois jumped ahead 49-46, and Shurna got the ball, pump faked, drove and sank 15-foot jump shot.

In the end, Illinois stopped scoring, but Shurna didn’t. With the game tied at 56-56, Shurna scored six points in a 10-4 run to seal the win. On the second of his three buckets, he drove and jumped as he approached the rim. The 7-foot Leonard also leaped to block the shot, and Shurna absorbed his body and found some way to lay it over Leonard’s extended arm and into the basket.

When the horn sounded, Shurna had shot 8 of 9 from the field and scored 17 points in the second half. He finished with a game-high 24 points to lead Northwestern to its first win at Illinois since 1999.

“He just realized he needed to start being aggressive,” Northwestern junior Drew Crawford said. “He knocked down one, and he kind of got on a roll. We had to keep going to him, and he kept making plays.”

“Johnny always knows when to be aggressive, when to run the offense and when it’s his turn. He’s a smart player. He really knows what he’s doing on the court, and he really executed tonight.”

Shurna scored most of his second-half baskets on Paul, and Paul gave credit where it was due.
“The kid’s incredibly talented,” Paul said. “He’s always in motion. Obviously, he puts a lot into his game. He doesn’t miss a lot of shots.”

Northwestern coach Bill Carmody has seen Shurna come through plenty in his career, but Sunday’s performance was even unique to Carmody.

“In the second half, he took over,” Carmody said. “He’s a senior. Actually, he told me in timeouts to give him the ball. I sort of ignored him for a few games. Today, we sort of ran some things for him, and he got it done. He’s a little too generous at times. Today, he made sure we finished things off.”