Sunday, February 16
Evanston, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
13-13,4-11Big Ten
64
vs
68
Nebraska
17-9,7-8Big Ten
1
2
F
Nebraska
21
47
68
Northwestern
36
28
64
Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Can’t Hold On in Loss to Nebraska
2/16/2025 6:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern led by as many as 20 points early in the second half but could not hold on and fell to Nebraska 68-64 on Sunday afternoon inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
"Obviously, super disappointing loss today," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "Devastating, really, considering our effort. I thought our guys were ready to play. (We) had a great first 28 minutes."
The Wildcats (13-13, 4-11 Big Ten) held a 36-21 lead at halftime, its largest halftime lead in Big Ten play this season. The Cornhuskers (17-9, 7-8 Big Ten) scored 47 points in the second half.
Graduate student Ty Berry logged 23 points for the second consecutive contest while shooting 7-of-18 from the field and 6-of-15 from beyond the arc. He set career-highs in both field goal attempts and three-point attempts en route to his first time scoring 20+ points in consecutive contests in his career. He scored 20+ points for the fifth time this season. Berry became the first Northwestern player to attempt at least 15 three-point attempts in a game since Jan. 31, 2016, when Tre Demps attempted 15 against Iowa.
Junior Nick Martinelli notched 23 points on 11-of-25 shooting, nine rebounds, and three steals. He became the first Northwestern player to post at least 23 points, nine rebounds, and three steals in a game since John Shurna did so on March 6, 2010, against Indiana. Martinelli had his second career game with 25+ field goal attempts, more than any Wildcat since at least 2005-06. Martinelli recorded his fifth 23+ point, 9+ rebounds game of the season, which leads the Big Ten.
Northwestern recorded 23 offensive rebounds, its third time doing so since 2009-10. Martinelli and graduate student Matthew Nicholson each had five offensive boards, while graduate student Keenan Fitzmorris and first-year Angelo Ciaravino both had four. Northwestern outrebounded Nebraska 46-27. Northwestern also had 23 offensive rebounds earlier this month against USC (Feb. 4).
The Wildcats forced Nebraska to 14 turnovers, tied for the Cornhuskers' second most turnovers in a Big Ten game this season.
Northwestern started the contest by jumping out to an early 7-0 lead within the opening three minutes of the matinee. Nebraska's first made field goal did not come until the 13:31 mark in the first half. An 8-0 run for the 'Cats from 10:27 to 8:06 in the first half catapulted the lead up to 17.
At halftime with a 31-26 lead, Northwestern had held the Cornhuskers to 6-of-22 (27.2%) shooting from the field and 1-of-10 (10.0%) from beyond the arc.
Two scores within the second half's opening minute extended the lead to 20, the largest it would get in the game. From 15:05 to 6:05 in the second half, Nebraska went on a 22-4 run to even the contest. The Cornhuskers took their first lead with under four minutes remaining.
"Our defense wasn't where it needed to be in the second half, and that's why we lost," Collins said. "We had some really critical breakdowns on actions, on simple ball screen actions. … We just did too many things to shoot ourselves in the foot that were very disappointing and discouraging."
The Wildcats played their 12th game of the season decided by five or fewer points, which leads the nation. Northwestern is 4-8 in such games. Nebraska's 68 points were the second-fewest scored against Northwestern in Big Ten play this season.
The Wildcats travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.
"Obviously, super disappointing loss today," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "Devastating, really, considering our effort. I thought our guys were ready to play. (We) had a great first 28 minutes."
The Wildcats (13-13, 4-11 Big Ten) held a 36-21 lead at halftime, its largest halftime lead in Big Ten play this season. The Cornhuskers (17-9, 7-8 Big Ten) scored 47 points in the second half.
Graduate student Ty Berry logged 23 points for the second consecutive contest while shooting 7-of-18 from the field and 6-of-15 from beyond the arc. He set career-highs in both field goal attempts and three-point attempts en route to his first time scoring 20+ points in consecutive contests in his career. He scored 20+ points for the fifth time this season. Berry became the first Northwestern player to attempt at least 15 three-point attempts in a game since Jan. 31, 2016, when Tre Demps attempted 15 against Iowa.
Junior Nick Martinelli notched 23 points on 11-of-25 shooting, nine rebounds, and three steals. He became the first Northwestern player to post at least 23 points, nine rebounds, and three steals in a game since John Shurna did so on March 6, 2010, against Indiana. Martinelli had his second career game with 25+ field goal attempts, more than any Wildcat since at least 2005-06. Martinelli recorded his fifth 23+ point, 9+ rebounds game of the season, which leads the Big Ten.
Northwestern recorded 23 offensive rebounds, its third time doing so since 2009-10. Martinelli and graduate student Matthew Nicholson each had five offensive boards, while graduate student Keenan Fitzmorris and first-year Angelo Ciaravino both had four. Northwestern outrebounded Nebraska 46-27. Northwestern also had 23 offensive rebounds earlier this month against USC (Feb. 4).
The Wildcats forced Nebraska to 14 turnovers, tied for the Cornhuskers' second most turnovers in a Big Ten game this season.
Northwestern started the contest by jumping out to an early 7-0 lead within the opening three minutes of the matinee. Nebraska's first made field goal did not come until the 13:31 mark in the first half. An 8-0 run for the 'Cats from 10:27 to 8:06 in the first half catapulted the lead up to 17.
At halftime with a 31-26 lead, Northwestern had held the Cornhuskers to 6-of-22 (27.2%) shooting from the field and 1-of-10 (10.0%) from beyond the arc.
Two scores within the second half's opening minute extended the lead to 20, the largest it would get in the game. From 15:05 to 6:05 in the second half, Nebraska went on a 22-4 run to even the contest. The Cornhuskers took their first lead with under four minutes remaining.
"Our defense wasn't where it needed to be in the second half, and that's why we lost," Collins said. "We had some really critical breakdowns on actions, on simple ball screen actions. … We just did too many things to shoot ourselves in the foot that were very disappointing and discouraging."
The Wildcats played their 12th game of the season decided by five or fewer points, which leads the nation. Northwestern is 4-8 in such games. Nebraska's 68 points were the second-fewest scored against Northwestern in Big Ten play this season.
The Wildcats travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
Nebr
NU
FG%
.444
.361
3FG%
.333
.350
FT%
.786
.625
RB
27
46
TO
14
16
STL
11
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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