Northwestern players and coaches couldn't hear him, what with noise polluting Welsh-Ryan Arena as the Wildcats hung on for dear life against Rutgers on Saturday night.

But Doug Collins delivered his message anyway — "Finish the game!" he screamed — before burying his face in his hands.

The former Bulls coach and father of Northwestern basketball boss Chris Collins couldn't bear to look. Eight seconds separated the Wildcats from survival against the worst team in the Big Ten, not to mention their fourth loss in five games. Vic Law had just clanked a free throw after a steal and a foul.

But Law sank his second attempt, and Isiah Brown followed suit on his two tries with three seconds left to stave off disaster and secure a program record-tying 20th victory, 69-65.

The Wildcats also earned their ninth Big Ten victory, the most since the 1932-33 team won 10.

"We just believe we should win," said junior guard Bryant McIntosh, who scored 18 and put the Wildcats ahead for good with a 3-pointer with 58 seconds left. "That goes a long way. … That's something that's changed in the past year, year and a half.

"This is really different considering we're playing meaningful games this time of year. Most times we're just playing for respect. … (Rutgers) had nothing to lose."

And the Wildcats, everything, including respect from the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Twelve days before their comeback against Rutgers, the Wildcats folded at home against Illinois, a team that hadn't won a true road game in more than a year.

Northwestern, which has never made the NCAA tournament, looked like it was pushing never into next season.

Photos from the Northwestern-Rutgers men's college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

"Every game is its own entity," Chris Collins said when asked if the Rutgers game was similar to the loss to Illinois.

But what could be a dream-saving victory at then-No. 7 Wisconsin followed.

Then came an understandable loss to No. 23 Maryland.

Then a reprieve, or so it seemed, against Rutgers, which has two Big Ten victories and 13 defeats.

Leading scorer Scottie Lindsey returned from a four-game absence because of a bout with mono.

Things were looking up when the Wildcats took a seven-point lead on an alley-oop from McIntosh to Vic Law with 5 minutes, 59 seconds left in the first half.

But hope seemed to disappear along with Northwestern's defense and offense in the second half.

Seven-plus long minutes filled with five turnovers, zero field goals and one point cast a desperate silence over what had been a loud Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern scored nine points during the first 12:45 of the second half.

Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell, who lost his voice as his team lost the game, said the crowd had little to do with his team's collapse.

"They've learned how to win," he said of the Wildcats. "They're well on their way to learning all their lessons from earlier days.

Northwestern will have another crack at Illinois in Champaign on Tuesday before going to Indiana on Saturday.

Michigan will follow at Welsh-Ryan before Purdue visits for the finale.

That's four more chances for the Wildcats to prove they have learned their lessons. That they are worthy of one of the 68 spots in a tournament not named the NIT.

"We earned respect," Chris Collins said. "That's something we wanted. People know we're a good team. People are ready to play us. We have to learn to deal with that."

Sometimes one free throw — and close victory — at a time.

pskrbina@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ChiTribSkrbina

Northwestern guard Bryant McIntosh on his late 3-pointer vs. Rutgers

Northwestern guard Bryant McIntosh reacts to his late 3-pointer in the 69-65 win over Rutgers on Feb. 18, 2017. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

Northwestern guard Bryant McIntosh reacts to his late 3-pointer in the 69-65 win over Rutgers on Feb. 18, 2017. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

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