Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, January 14
Evanston, Ill.
7:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
8-9,0-6Big Ten
68
vs
79
#13 Illinois
14-3,5-1Big Ten
1
2
F
Illinois
38
41
79
Northwestern
33
35
68
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Reid Scores Career-High 28 Points in 79-68 loss to No. 13 Illinois
1/14/2026 11:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern's quest for a fourth-consecutive home win in its in-state rivalry fell short in a 79-68 defeat to No. 13 Illinois on Wednesday night in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
"When you're backed up into a corner and you're in a tough spot, you swing harder," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We're doing everything we can to find a way to win."
Junior guard Jayden Reid recorded a career-high 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting and three assists to pace the Wildcats (8-9, 0-6 Big Ten) on offense.
Reid tallied the most points off the bench by a Northwestern player since Dererk Pardon scored 28 against Nebraska on Dec. 30, 2015.
Gallery: (1-14-2026) Men's Basketball vs. Illinois
"I told Jayden he was still going to play his minutes," Collins said. "That was certainly his best game for us. He was just aggressive. He was making great decisions. He was getting to the paint. He made shots. Hopefully, that can be the start of what's to come."
Senior forward Nick Martinelli turned in his 10th 20-point display in his last 11 games. Reid and Martinelli became the first Wildcat teammates to each score 20 points against a ranked opponent since Boo Buie, Ryan Langborg and Ty Berry did so in an overtime win over then-No. 1 Purdue on Dec. 1, 2023.
While the Fighting Illini (15-3, 6-1 Big Ten) scored the game's initial six points, Northwestern launched a 9-0 run to build an early 9-6 lead.
After a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes, Illinois entered halftime with a 38-33 lead.
The Wildcats held the visitors to 39.5% shooting, including a 22% clip from three-point-range, during the first half.
The Fighting Illini stretched their advantage to a game-high 15 points midway through the second half, but NU cut the deficit down to 67-63 with just under five minutes remaining. Reid fueled the hosts' second-half scoring effort, notching 20 of his 28 points in the latter 20 minutes.
Ultimately, Illinois closed out the result in a decisive stretch at the matchup's culmination.
"We're playing really hard, and that's what's frustrating," Collins said. "Diving for loose balls, playing with great physicality, I just thought altogether those things were at a really high level. I'm just heartbroken for the players that they're not getting to see the rewards of that effort."
The Wildcats will continue their homestand on Saturday, Jan. 17, against No. 8 Nebraska at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
"When you're backed up into a corner and you're in a tough spot, you swing harder," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We're doing everything we can to find a way to win."
Junior guard Jayden Reid recorded a career-high 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting and three assists to pace the Wildcats (8-9, 0-6 Big Ten) on offense.
Reid tallied the most points off the bench by a Northwestern player since Dererk Pardon scored 28 against Nebraska on Dec. 30, 2015.
"I told Jayden he was still going to play his minutes," Collins said. "That was certainly his best game for us. He was just aggressive. He was making great decisions. He was getting to the paint. He made shots. Hopefully, that can be the start of what's to come."
Senior forward Nick Martinelli turned in his 10th 20-point display in his last 11 games. Reid and Martinelli became the first Wildcat teammates to each score 20 points against a ranked opponent since Boo Buie, Ryan Langborg and Ty Berry did so in an overtime win over then-No. 1 Purdue on Dec. 1, 2023.
While the Fighting Illini (15-3, 6-1 Big Ten) scored the game's initial six points, Northwestern launched a 9-0 run to build an early 9-6 lead.
After a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes, Illinois entered halftime with a 38-33 lead.
The Wildcats held the visitors to 39.5% shooting, including a 22% clip from three-point-range, during the first half.
The Fighting Illini stretched their advantage to a game-high 15 points midway through the second half, but NU cut the deficit down to 67-63 with just under five minutes remaining. Reid fueled the hosts' second-half scoring effort, notching 20 of his 28 points in the latter 20 minutes.
Ultimately, Illinois closed out the result in a decisive stretch at the matchup's culmination.
"We're playing really hard, and that's what's frustrating," Collins said. "Diving for loose balls, playing with great physicality, I just thought altogether those things were at a really high level. I'm just heartbroken for the players that they're not getting to see the rewards of that effort."
The Wildcats will continue their homestand on Saturday, Jan. 17, against No. 8 Nebraska at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
Illini
NU
FG%
.476
.393
3FG%
.367
.360
FT%
1.000
.882
RB
33
30
TO
8
7
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
20
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
8
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Men's Basketball - Illinois Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, January 15
Men's Basketball - 'Cats Fall to No. 13 Illinois (1/14/26)
Thursday, January 15
Men's Basketball - Collins, Martinelli Preview Illinois (1/13/26)
Tuesday, January 13
Men's Basketball - Rutgers Postgame Press Conference (1/11/26)
Monday, January 12
