EVANSTON, Ill. >> Tre Demps tied a career-high with 23 points as Northwestern beat Northern Kentucky 76-55 on Saturday.

Northwestern took its largest lead at 74-50 on a Demps 3-pointer with 2:32 left. He finished 9 of 18 from the field.

Bryant McIntosh added 15 points and Scottie Lindsey had 12 for Northwestern (9-4) in its final non-conference game before beginning Big Ten action on Tuesday.

The Wildcats have won three straight and four of five.

Todd Johnson scored 14 points for Northern Kentucky (6-7). The Norse fell to 0-3 against Big Ten teams this season.

Northwestern extended its lead to 18 with 17:41 left after three-point plays by Sanjay Lumpkin and Demps, and a Lumpkin dunk. Northern Kentucky cut the lead to nine on Johnson’s 3-pointer and free throw with 10:38 remaining. But Vic Law’s jumper and Gavin Skelly’s putback extended Northwestern’s lead to 13 with 8:02 left.