The win essentially concluded the first half of the Leafs’ 2006-2007 schedule, pushing Goshen (8-8, 1-2) to its fifth win in its last seven contests. Not including the team’s 72-100 loss to NCAA Division II program Kentucky Wesleyan College (click here for related article), Goshen has lost its remaining seven contests by an average of just 7.5 points per game. And while head coach Stan Daugherty is encouraged by those numbers, he is well aware of the grind that becomes his team’s slate for the remainder of the season: Goshen opens up the meat of its ’06-’07 Mid-Central Conference schedule Wednesday night at rival Bethel College.

“Tonight’s game against I.U.-Northwest was a good game to play for us before we get back into conference play,” Daugherty said. “It was also a good game in that it allowed us to play some young players that needed to get some game time. I think at this point of the season, we are pleased to be at 8-8 with the start that we had in losing some very close games. We must now make a big push to improve more as we head into the toughest part of the season. We have been competitive in about every game, but we must continue to improve our fundamentals and execution on both ends of the floor.”

Daugherty’s squad opened Friday night’s contest with an impressive surge, taking control of the game from the opening tip and never looking back. Inspired play from senior Willie Frazier led the squad to a 41-23 lead at the half — the East Chicago native had 12 first-half points and six rebounds — and the Leafs’ regulars would become spectators in the second 20 minutes of play. Daugherty and staff went to the bench liberally in the early goings of the latter 20 minutes, allowing a variety of player combinations to get valued playing time.

And while the experience was esteemed, Goshen’s efficiency suffered late. After shooting 52.9 percent from the field in the first period (18 of 34) and holding Indiana-Northwest to just a 25 percent clip (nine of 36), statistics were much closer in the second period: Goshen knocked in just nine of 30 attempts from the floor in the second half (30 percent), while I.U.-Northwest made seven of 24 attempts (29.2 percent). The Redhawks went on to outscore Goshen by a 27-24 count in the final 20 minutes of play.

“Overall, we played pretty well defensively to hold them to 50 points and 26.7 percent shooting percentage,” Daugherty said. “Offensively, we played well in spurts. We were able to run the ball in the last 10 minutes of the first half and get some easy shots. Early in the second half, we moved the ball well and created some good shots for each other. We did not handle the ball well most of the night, however. We have to get stronger with the ball when people bump us or reach in and slap the ball.”

An un-Daugherty-like 19 turnovers plagued the Leafs’ efforts, while a season-low four of 22 shooting from three-point range (18.2 percent) did not help matters. Still, Goshen’s vast physical superiority kept things from getting close, as the final 15-point margin was as close as the Redhawks would get in the second half.

Frazier concluded with a game-high 15 points on seven of nine shooting from the floor, including a game-high eight rebounds. Freshman Errick McCollum scored 14 points, while junior Brice Hartman chipped in 11. Freshman Nate West joined Frazier with rebounding honors in grabbing eight total boards and scoring five points. Sophomore Sam Boldman grabbed seven boards and scored five as well. Goshen held a 53 to 35 advantage in total rebounding on the night, grabbing a season-high 21 offensive rebounds for 14 second-chance points.

Goshen will return to the practice court before making the short trip to Mishawaka Wednesday night, as the Leafs will face off against Bethel at 7 p.m. in the Wiekamp Center. Wednesday’s contest will be broadcast on 91.1 FM The Globe and on the web at www.globeradio.org. Click on the highlighted link at game time for the play-by-play action.