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Shurna, Northwestern top Texas-Pan American 53-44

Jan 8, 2010 - 2:03 AM EVANSTON, Ill.(AP) -- John Shurna had 21 points and 13 rebounds Thursday night as Northwestern overcame its own poor play for a 53-44 victory over Texas-Pan American, which lost its 11th consecutive game.

Northwestern (11-3) had won nine straight games to move into the rankings, at No. 25, for the first time since 1969 before opening the Big Ten season with losses to Illinois and Michigan State.

The Wildcats figured to fix their problems against Texas-Pan American (1-16), which lost at Texas by 62 points and at Missouri by 56 and is No. 282 nationally in RPI. But Northwestern committed 19 turnovers and shot 32 percent and didn't take the lead for good until Luka Mirkovic made two free throws with 11:07 to play.