High-scoring guards Tayson Parker and Luke Brown squared off Tuesday. The individual match-up lived up to expectations with Parker and Northwestern winning the battle. (Pictured: Luke Brown)

2020 guard Tayson Parker opened the scoring with a three-pointer. He began the game on fire from deep with three first-quarter triples. Parker's shooting stunned Blackford as they weren't ready for him to be burying outside shots at a high rate. Parker scored 15 points in the first stanza to give Northwestern the 27-12 lead.

Luke Brown entered the game averaging 35.9 points per contest. With the Northwestern often double-teaming him, Brown didn't score in the first period but picked up four assists. Brown didn't score until the 4:30 mark of the second quarter. From there, he rattled off 10 points in the next 160 seconds. 

Even with Brown's scoring burst, Northwestern extended its lead. Parked didn't slow down and the Northwestern offense was getting open look after open look. When Parker drew too much attention, Logan Bowser was there for Northwestern. Bowser connected on four three-pointers in the first half as Northwestern posted a 50-point half. 

After scoring 10 points in the first half, Brown broke out for 13 in the third quarter. Blackford was able to get the deficit down to nine points, and it looked like Northwestern could fold, but the Tigers always had an answer when things were going against them. Ben Harris and Brayden Maple made big plays for the Tigers so they could maintain their lead.

Opening the final period, Blackford scored five points to cut Northwestern's lead to six points. Once again, Parker took over the game. He scored 11 of the next 16 points for Northwestern. His scoring kept Blackford at bay even as Brown lit up the scoreboard.

Down six, Mark White created a steal for Blackford and took it to the basket. He couldn't convert at the rim, and Northwestern came down with the rebound. A Blackford score would have cut it to a four-point game for the first time since the opening quarter. Northwestern converted five of six free throws down the stretch to win 90-79.

Tayson Parker finished with 41 points. He 14-22 from the field and 3-6 from the three-point line. He also had seven rebounds, two assists, seven turnovers, two blocks, and four steals. 

Ben Harris and Logan Bowser each scored 15 points for Northwestern. Caleb Treadway had eight, and Brandon Austin scored seven.

Luke Brown finished with 34 points. which lowers his season scoring average, on 11-22 shooting. He was 5-9 from three and 7-7 from the free throw line. He had four rebounds, nine assists, three turnovers, and two steals in the loss.

Brandon Stroble added 17. Caleb Mealy had 10, and Dalton Williams scored eight.

Northwestern is now 17-1. Blackford drops to 12-4.