Tuesday, February 25
Minneapolis, Minn.
6 p.m. CT
Northwestern
15-13,6-11Big Ten
75
at
63
Minnesota
14-14,6-11Big Ten
1
2
F
Northwestern
36
39
75
Minnesota
31
32
63
Northwestern Wins Second-Straight Road Game, Downs Minnesota 75-63
2/25/2025 11:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS - Junior Nick Martinelli scored a Big Ten career-high 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting as Northwestern recorded its second consecutive win with a wire-to-wire 75-63 victory at Minnesota inside Williams Arena on Tuesday night.
Martinelli also pulled down five rebounds while tying his career-high with three made treys. He is the first Wildcat forward to score 29+ points in a Big Ten game since Feb. 5, 2012, when John Shurna posted 29 against Indiana.
At halftime, Northwestern had recorded 12 assists while shooting 14-of-28 (50.0%) from the field in the first half. The team shot 7-of-12 (58.3%) from beyond the arc in the first half.
The 'Cats started the second half strong, opening the half with a 10-2 run over the first three and a half minutes. Minnesota cut the lead down to single-digits with a shade under 11 minutes remaining, at which point Northwestern went on an 11-2 run to extend the lead to a game-high 17 points. Martinelli scored 10 of the 11 points during this stretch. The 'Cats remained in control for the remainder of the contest.
The Wildcats have held their opponent under 70 points for the fourth time in Big Ten play this season and have done so in three consecutive contests for the first time since Feb. 7-15, 2024. Northwestern is 12-1 this season when holding its opponent to 70 or fewer points.
Martinelli climbed to fourth in the program's single-season field goals made leaderboard with 213 and eighth in the program's single-season points leaderboard with 562.
With the victory, Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins recorded his 192nd win, tying Bill Carmody (2000-13) for second-most in program history.
The 'Cats tallied 21 assists, their most in a Big Ten game since March 9, 2024, against Minnesota, when Northwestern totaled 23 helpers. Northwestern turned the ball over eight times while forcing 13 Golden Gopher turnovers. The Wildcats have forced three straight 13+ turnover games in Big Ten play for the first time since Feb. 15-23, 2023.
Gallery: (2-25-2025) Men's Basketball at Minnesota
Northwestern converted on 9-of-19 (47.4%) three-point attempts. The Wildcats are 5-0 this season when shooting over 44% from beyond the arc.
First-year K.J. Windham tallied eight points and posted career-highs of seven assists and three steals. Windham became the first Northwestern first-year to record 7+ assists in a game since Boo Buie had seven against Nebraska on March 1, 2020.
Graduate student Ty Berry logged nine points, knocking down 2-of-4 threes, and seven rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Luke Hunger set a season-high in Big Ten play with eight points. Junior Justin Mullins added eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.
The Wildcats have won four of their last five games against Minnesota for the first time since 2016-2018.
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a two-game homestand beginning with a tilt against Iowa at 8 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 28. The game will air on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.
Martinelli also pulled down five rebounds while tying his career-high with three made treys. He is the first Wildcat forward to score 29+ points in a Big Ten game since Feb. 5, 2012, when John Shurna posted 29 against Indiana.
Northwestern (15-13, 6-11 Big Ten) jumped out to a 10-0 lead, forcing three turnovers, in the game's opening three minutes. The Golden Gophers (14-14, 6-11 Big Ten) fought back to tie the contest with seven minutes remaining in the half, but they never took the lead. The 'Cats entered halftime with a 36-31 lead.Cold Like Minnesota ?? pic.twitter.com/6mvncx2ZLX
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) February 26, 2025
At halftime, Northwestern had recorded 12 assists while shooting 14-of-28 (50.0%) from the field in the first half. The team shot 7-of-12 (58.3%) from beyond the arc in the first half.
The 'Cats started the second half strong, opening the half with a 10-2 run over the first three and a half minutes. Minnesota cut the lead down to single-digits with a shade under 11 minutes remaining, at which point Northwestern went on an 11-2 run to extend the lead to a game-high 17 points. Martinelli scored 10 of the 11 points during this stretch. The 'Cats remained in control for the remainder of the contest.
The Wildcats have held their opponent under 70 points for the fourth time in Big Ten play this season and have done so in three consecutive contests for the first time since Feb. 7-15, 2024. Northwestern is 12-1 this season when holding its opponent to 70 or fewer points.
Martinelli climbed to fourth in the program's single-season field goals made leaderboard with 213 and eighth in the program's single-season points leaderboard with 562.
With the victory, Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins recorded his 192nd win, tying Bill Carmody (2000-13) for second-most in program history.
The 'Cats tallied 21 assists, their most in a Big Ten game since March 9, 2024, against Minnesota, when Northwestern totaled 23 helpers. Northwestern turned the ball over eight times while forcing 13 Golden Gopher turnovers. The Wildcats have forced three straight 13+ turnover games in Big Ten play for the first time since Feb. 15-23, 2023.
Northwestern converted on 9-of-19 (47.4%) three-point attempts. The Wildcats are 5-0 this season when shooting over 44% from beyond the arc.
First-year K.J. Windham tallied eight points and posted career-highs of seven assists and three steals. Windham became the first Northwestern first-year to record 7+ assists in a game since Boo Buie had seven against Nebraska on March 1, 2020.
Graduate student Ty Berry logged nine points, knocking down 2-of-4 threes, and seven rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Luke Hunger set a season-high in Big Ten play with eight points. Junior Justin Mullins added eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.
The Wildcats have won four of their last five games against Minnesota for the first time since 2016-2018.
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a two-game homestand beginning with a tilt against Iowa at 8 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 28. The game will air on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
NU
MINN
FG%
.491
.421
3FG%
.500
.263
FT%
.625
.714
RB
33
36
TO
8
13
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
11
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
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