Tuesday, November 19
Evanston, Ill.
8 p.m. CT
Northwestern
4-1,0-0Big Ten
72
vs
69
Montana State
1-4,0-0Big Sky
1
2
F
Montana St.
39
30
69
Northwestern
34
38
72
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Barnhizer Makes Return, Leads Northwestern to Win Over Montana State
11/20/2024 12:13:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Guided by senior Brooks Barnhizer's 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in his season debut and junior Nick Martinelli's game-high 22 points and seven rebounds, Northwestern edged by Montana State 72-69 on Tuesday night inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
"It was kind of the second straight game where we had a lot of game pressure on us, and the real positive is that our guys responded," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We were able to get stops when we needed them."
Barnhizer and Martinelli became the first pair of Wildcats (4-1) to score at least 20 points in the same game this season, and each added three steals. Graduate student Jalen Leach added 12 points, two rebounds and two assists, while graduate student Matthew Nicholson tied his career-high with four blocks.
The game's first half remained close, with neither team pulling ahead by more than five points. The Bobcats (1-4) led 39-34 as the game went into halftime. Barnhizer notched first-half team highs with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
"(Having Barnhizer back) means a lot," Collins said. "He's one of the best players in the country. … He's such a fierce competitor. His energy, how hard he plays, his physicality, his leadership and his voice, we haven't had that. We've had it from the sideline, but it's different."
Barnhizer scored nine of the final 18 points in the first half for Northwestern. By the end of the contest, he recorded the first game by a Wildcat of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals since at least 2005-06.
Gallery: (11-19-2024) MBB vs. Montana State
"I missed it a lot. To be out there with the guys, being able to go to war with them, is just fun," Barnhizer said. "I'm glad to be back out there."
On the first offensive possession of the second half, Martinelli converted a post hook to trim the lead to three. He scored 10 of the Wildcats' first 12 points of the second half, ultimately finishing with 16 second half points.
Martinelli has scored in double figures in five consecutive games, the longest streak of his career. Martinelli also became the first Wildcat since Vedran Vukusic in the 2005-06 season to score 20+ points in at least four of the first five games of the season.
"We definitely talked in the locker room just to have confidence coming into the second half," Martinelli said.
The game remained a back-and-forth contest in the second half with the largest lead of six coming with 12:34 remaining in the half on the heels of a graduate student Ty Berry three. The game had 13 lead changes and 15 ties.
Martinelli took a 63-62 lead for Northwestern on a floater with 3:49, and the 'Cats never gave the lead back.
With the game tied at 67-67 apiece, Barnhizer beat his man right and found Nicholson for an alley-oop to give Northwestern a two-point lead.
"(Barnhizer) just did what big time players do," Collins said. "He kept poise. He was confident, and he made big plays down the stretch."
With 16 seconds remaining, Berry blocked Montana State's Brandon Walker, and with free throws from Leach and junior Justin Mullins, the 'Cats iced the game.
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 22 to welcome Pepperdine for the final game of its season-long four-game homestand. The game will air on B1G+ and WGN Radio 720.
"It was kind of the second straight game where we had a lot of game pressure on us, and the real positive is that our guys responded," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We were able to get stops when we needed them."
Barnhizer and Martinelli became the first pair of Wildcats (4-1) to score at least 20 points in the same game this season, and each added three steals. Graduate student Jalen Leach added 12 points, two rebounds and two assists, while graduate student Matthew Nicholson tied his career-high with four blocks.
The Wildcats recorded 15 offensive rebounds, their most in a game since Nov. 18, 2023 against Rhode Island with 17. Northwestern pulled down at least 15 offensive rebounds in a game for the fifth time since the start of the 2021-22 season.'CATS WIN! ?? pic.twitter.com/WB6wmMXCX0
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 20, 2024
The game's first half remained close, with neither team pulling ahead by more than five points. The Bobcats (1-4) led 39-34 as the game went into halftime. Barnhizer notched first-half team highs with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
"(Having Barnhizer back) means a lot," Collins said. "He's one of the best players in the country. … He's such a fierce competitor. His energy, how hard he plays, his physicality, his leadership and his voice, we haven't had that. We've had it from the sideline, but it's different."
Barnhizer scored nine of the final 18 points in the first half for Northwestern. By the end of the contest, he recorded the first game by a Wildcat of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals since at least 2005-06.
"I missed it a lot. To be out there with the guys, being able to go to war with them, is just fun," Barnhizer said. "I'm glad to be back out there."
On the first offensive possession of the second half, Martinelli converted a post hook to trim the lead to three. He scored 10 of the Wildcats' first 12 points of the second half, ultimately finishing with 16 second half points.
Martinelli has scored in double figures in five consecutive games, the longest streak of his career. Martinelli also became the first Wildcat since Vedran Vukusic in the 2005-06 season to score 20+ points in at least four of the first five games of the season.
"We definitely talked in the locker room just to have confidence coming into the second half," Martinelli said.
The game remained a back-and-forth contest in the second half with the largest lead of six coming with 12:34 remaining in the half on the heels of a graduate student Ty Berry three. The game had 13 lead changes and 15 ties.
Martinelli took a 63-62 lead for Northwestern on a floater with 3:49, and the 'Cats never gave the lead back.
With the game tied at 67-67 apiece, Barnhizer beat his man right and found Nicholson for an alley-oop to give Northwestern a two-point lead.
"(Barnhizer) just did what big time players do," Collins said. "He kept poise. He was confident, and he made big plays down the stretch."
With 16 seconds remaining, Berry blocked Montana State's Brandon Walker, and with free throws from Leach and junior Justin Mullins, the 'Cats iced the game.
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 22 to welcome Pepperdine for the final game of its season-long four-game homestand. The game will air on B1G+ and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
MSU
NU
FG%
.446
.453
3FG%
.409
.250
FT%
.833
.625
RB
32
39
TO
10
9
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
20
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
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