Saturday, February 8
Seattle, Wash.
9:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
13-11,4-9Big Ten
71
at
76
Washington
12-11,3-9Big Ten
1
2
F
Northwestern
30
41
71
Washington
39
37
76
‘Cats Comeback Attempt Falls Short at Washington, 76-71
2/9/2025 12:47:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SEATTLE. - Junior Nick Martinelli posted his second consecutive double-double with 23 points, 19 of which came in the second half, and 10 rebounds as Northwestern suffered a 76-71 setback at Washington on Sunday night.
Martinelli also tallied three assists. He became the first Northwestern player to put up 23+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 3+ assists in a Big Ten game since Jan. 12, 2022, when Pete Nance dropped 28 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists against Maryland. Martinelli posted his fifth double-double of the season, tying Pete Nance (2021-22) for the most double-doubles by a Northwestern forward in a season.
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins elected to switch up his starting lineup, as he started junior Justin Mullins and sophomore Jordan Clayton for the first time in their Wildcat careers.
Gallery: (2-8-2025) Men's Basketball at Washington
Mullins scored 13 points, converting 3-of-5 three-point attempts in 33 minutes of action. His 13 points are the most by a Northwestern player in their first start as a Wildcat since Brooks Barnhizer scored 18 against Binghamton on Nov. 6, 2023. The Oak Park, Ill. native has scored 10+ points in back-to-back games for the first time during his Northwestern tenure.
Clayton recorded career-highs with seven points, five assists, and 26 minutes in his first game of the season and first career start.
Graduate student Ty Berry notched 14 points, draining two threes, and recorded two steals. Berry tied Drew Crawford (2009-14) for the fifth most made threes in program history with 232. Berry has knocked down 2+ threes in nine Big Ten games, which is tied for the most in the conference. The 6-foot-3 guard has scored 10+ points in six of his last eight games.
Northwestern had seven turnovers, whereas the Huskies (12-11, 3-9 Big Ten) had 16. Washington's 16 turnovers were its second most in a game this season. Northwestern had nine steals, tied for its second most in Big Ten play this season, and 22 points off turnovers compared to the Huskies' three.
The Wildcats shot 11-of-11 from the free throw line, its first time shooting 100% from the line with at least 10 attempts since Nov. 23, 2021, against Georgia when it went 13-of-13. Five different players — Martinelli, Clayton, Mullins, graduate student Matthew Nicholson, and first-year Angelo Ciaravino — made free throws for Northwestern.
Northwestern got off to a slow offensive start, scoring just six points in the opening eight minutes of action. The team entered halftime trailing 39-30 after Washington hit a three with one second remaining in the first half. Berry and Mullins paced the Wildcats in first-half scoring with seven points apiece.
The Huskies' lead grew to 14 early in the second half, but Northwestern went on an 11-0 run, led by six points from Mullins and five from Martinelli, from 16:00 to 13:12 in the second half to make it a one-possession affair. It wouldn't be until the 4:26 mark that the Wildcats took their first lead at 64-62 since holding a 6-4 lead early in the contest.
Washington went on a 9-2 run to retake control of the game and held a grip on the contest from then on.
Northwestern continues its West Coast trip with a matchup against Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Martinelli also tallied three assists. He became the first Northwestern player to put up 23+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 3+ assists in a Big Ten game since Jan. 12, 2022, when Pete Nance dropped 28 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists against Maryland. Martinelli posted his fifth double-double of the season, tying Pete Nance (2021-22) for the most double-doubles by a Northwestern forward in a season.
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins elected to switch up his starting lineup, as he started junior Justin Mullins and sophomore Jordan Clayton for the first time in their Wildcat careers.
Mullins scored 13 points, converting 3-of-5 three-point attempts in 33 minutes of action. His 13 points are the most by a Northwestern player in their first start as a Wildcat since Brooks Barnhizer scored 18 against Binghamton on Nov. 6, 2023. The Oak Park, Ill. native has scored 10+ points in back-to-back games for the first time during his Northwestern tenure.
Clayton recorded career-highs with seven points, five assists, and 26 minutes in his first game of the season and first career start.
Graduate student Ty Berry notched 14 points, draining two threes, and recorded two steals. Berry tied Drew Crawford (2009-14) for the fifth most made threes in program history with 232. Berry has knocked down 2+ threes in nine Big Ten games, which is tied for the most in the conference. The 6-foot-3 guard has scored 10+ points in six of his last eight games.
Northwestern had seven turnovers, whereas the Huskies (12-11, 3-9 Big Ten) had 16. Washington's 16 turnovers were its second most in a game this season. Northwestern had nine steals, tied for its second most in Big Ten play this season, and 22 points off turnovers compared to the Huskies' three.
The Wildcats shot 11-of-11 from the free throw line, its first time shooting 100% from the line with at least 10 attempts since Nov. 23, 2021, against Georgia when it went 13-of-13. Five different players — Martinelli, Clayton, Mullins, graduate student Matthew Nicholson, and first-year Angelo Ciaravino — made free throws for Northwestern.
Northwestern got off to a slow offensive start, scoring just six points in the opening eight minutes of action. The team entered halftime trailing 39-30 after Washington hit a three with one second remaining in the first half. Berry and Mullins paced the Wildcats in first-half scoring with seven points apiece.
The Huskies' lead grew to 14 early in the second half, but Northwestern went on an 11-0 run, led by six points from Mullins and five from Martinelli, from 16:00 to 13:12 in the second half to make it a one-possession affair. It wouldn't be until the 4:26 mark that the Wildcats took their first lead at 64-62 since holding a 6-4 lead early in the contest.
Washington went on a 9-2 run to retake control of the game and held a grip on the contest from then on.
Northwestern continues its West Coast trip with a matchup against Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
NU
UW
FG%
.481
.528
3FG%
.333
.364
FT%
1.000
.750
RB
22
34
TO
7
16
STL
9
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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