Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, October 29
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
0-0,0-0Big Ten
100
vs
65
Illinois State (Exhibition)
0-0,0-0MVC
1
2
F
Illinois St.
34
31
65
Northwestern
41
59
100
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Outpaces Illinois State in Preseason Finale, 100-65
10/29/2025 10:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Senior forward Nick Martinelli posted a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds as Northwestern defeated Illinois State 100-65 in its final exhibition game on Wednesday night in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
"Our guys were excited about taking the floor again as one team on our home floor," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "Really good bounce-back for us from Sunday. We're still in the process of learning about our team."
Junior guard Jayden Reid ran the floor with 11 points and a game-high 11 assists, the program's most in an exhibition since at least 2014. Junior forward Arrinten Page added 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Northwestern recorded 22 assists to just five turnovers.
"You put a true point guard on the floor and we have five turnovers," Collins said of Reid. "And he gets 11 assists, 1 turnover. That position is so important for ball security, valuing the ball."
Wednesday marked the first live action in Evanston for Reid, a USF transfer who didn't play in the team's previous exhibition at Iowa State.
He said he was "super excited" heading into the matchup.
"Just happy to put on the jersey, get out there in the Northwestern uniform and play with a bunch of good guys around me," Reid said. "It's just a lot of talented players on our roster, I enjoy playing with them [and] it makes my job easier."
Gallery: (10-29-2025) MBB vs. Illinois St (Exhibition)
The Wildcats, who are undefeated in home exhibitions under Collins, held the Redbirds to 32.1% shooting from the field and a 14.8% mark from beyond the arc.
Five Northwestern players posted double-digit points in the win — Martinelli (21), Page (16), sophomore guard K.J. Windham (12), sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino (11) and Reid (11) — and the hosts knocked down 11-of-22 3-point attempts.
"We have a ton of depth," Martinelli said. "That was something we really looked for in the portal. We went out, got [Reid], who's an unbelievable playmaker, and [Page] who can really score and block shots back."
Ciaravino scored the game's opening points on a corner triple. Ciaravino, who made nine 3-pointers during his first-year campaign, knocked down three of his first four outside shots in exhibition play.
The Wildcats weathered a late Redbird charge, carrying a 41-34 lead into halftime. Collins' squad has solidified halftime leads in both exhibitions this season.
Once the second half struck, Collins felt Northwestern's athleticism jumped off the page. The Wildcats scored 59 of their 100 points in the final 20 minutes. On the defensive end, NU held the Redbirds to 31 second-half points on 7-of-22 shooting.
"As we settled into the game, our depth and athletes kind of wore them down," Collins said. "That's what having depth can do as you go through the game. All of a sudden you can extend it."
The Wildcats converted five of their first seven second-half field goals and didn't relent in an acceleration toward the final buzzer. Collins experimented with several lineups down the stretch, with Martinelli considering his teams' varied roles and looks as a testament to the program's culture.
"Guys don't really care what position they're playing — they just want to be out there," Martinelli said. "They just get to carry on the tradition, play our butts off, play for each other. Just play the right way."
The Wildcats will officially open the 2025-26 season on Monday, Nov. 7, when they'll take on Mercyhurst at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT, with the game airing on B1G+ and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
"Our guys were excited about taking the floor again as one team on our home floor," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "Really good bounce-back for us from Sunday. We're still in the process of learning about our team."
Preseason ?
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) October 30, 2025
It starts for real Monday night. pic.twitter.com/Cq8uaUET9E
Junior guard Jayden Reid ran the floor with 11 points and a game-high 11 assists, the program's most in an exhibition since at least 2014. Junior forward Arrinten Page added 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Northwestern recorded 22 assists to just five turnovers.
"You put a true point guard on the floor and we have five turnovers," Collins said of Reid. "And he gets 11 assists, 1 turnover. That position is so important for ball security, valuing the ball."
Wednesday marked the first live action in Evanston for Reid, a USF transfer who didn't play in the team's previous exhibition at Iowa State.
He said he was "super excited" heading into the matchup.
"Just happy to put on the jersey, get out there in the Northwestern uniform and play with a bunch of good guys around me," Reid said. "It's just a lot of talented players on our roster, I enjoy playing with them [and] it makes my job easier."
The Wildcats, who are undefeated in home exhibitions under Collins, held the Redbirds to 32.1% shooting from the field and a 14.8% mark from beyond the arc.
Five Northwestern players posted double-digit points in the win — Martinelli (21), Page (16), sophomore guard K.J. Windham (12), sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino (11) and Reid (11) — and the hosts knocked down 11-of-22 3-point attempts.
"We have a ton of depth," Martinelli said. "That was something we really looked for in the portal. We went out, got [Reid], who's an unbelievable playmaker, and [Page] who can really score and block shots back."
Ciaravino scored the game's opening points on a corner triple. Ciaravino, who made nine 3-pointers during his first-year campaign, knocked down three of his first four outside shots in exhibition play.
The Wildcats weathered a late Redbird charge, carrying a 41-34 lead into halftime. Collins' squad has solidified halftime leads in both exhibitions this season.
Once the second half struck, Collins felt Northwestern's athleticism jumped off the page. The Wildcats scored 59 of their 100 points in the final 20 minutes. On the defensive end, NU held the Redbirds to 31 second-half points on 7-of-22 shooting.
"As we settled into the game, our depth and athletes kind of wore them down," Collins said. "That's what having depth can do as you go through the game. All of a sudden you can extend it."
The Wildcats converted five of their first seven second-half field goals and didn't relent in an acceleration toward the final buzzer. Collins experimented with several lineups down the stretch, with Martinelli considering his teams' varied roles and looks as a testament to the program's culture.
"Guys don't really care what position they're playing — they just want to be out there," Martinelli said. "They just get to carry on the tradition, play our butts off, play for each other. Just play the right way."
The Wildcats will officially open the 2025-26 season on Monday, Nov. 7, when they'll take on Mercyhurst at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT, with the game airing on B1G+ and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Team Stats
ILS
NU
FG%
.321
.508
3FG%
.148
.500
FT%
.771
.794
RB
32
36
TO
9
5
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
9
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball - Illinois State Exhibition Postgame Press Conference (10/29/25)
Thursday, October 30
Men's Basketball - 'Cats Breeze by Redbirds in Exhibition, 100-65 (10/29/25)
Thursday, October 30
Men's Basketball - Collins, Martinelli, Singleton Preview Season Opener (10/28/2025)
Tuesday, October 28
Men's Basketball - Iowa State Exhibition Postgame Press Conference (10/26/2025)
Sunday, October 26
