Wildcats Open Los Angeles Trip Wednesday Night at USC

Wednesday, January 21

Los Angeles, Calif.

10 p.m. CT

Northwestern

USC

Photo by: Henry Frieman/Northwestern Athletics

Wildcats Open Los Angeles Trip Wednesday Night at USC

1/20/2026 3:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Charlie Spungin, NUSports.com

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball kicks off its trip to Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 10 p.m. CT, by making its first visit to USC since 1999. The game will air on Big Ten Network with Guy Haberman (play-by-play) and Don MacLean (analyst) on the call and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 384 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).

Last time out, the Wildcats (8-10, 0-7 Big Ten) lost to No. 8 Nebraska, 77-58, on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 17). Senior forward Nick Martinelli registered 22 points, 10 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass, and two assists. He posted the first 20-plus-point double-double against a ranked team by a Northwestern player since Vic Law against No. 20 Iowa on Feb. 10, 2019. First-year forward Tre Singleton notched 14 points, two rebounds, one steal, and one block in 35 minutes. Singleton's showing marked the most points by an NU first-year against a top 10 opponent since Boo Buie dropped 15 points at Maryland on Feb. 18, 2020.

This season, Martinelli ranks second in the nation, averaging 23.7 points per game, while converting 56.3% of his field goal attempts (6th in Big Ten). The Glenview, Ill. native, is pulling down 6.8 rebounds per game (13th). He is shooting 53.3% from 3-point distance, the 6th-best mark nationally, per KenPom. Martinelli has scored 20+ points in nine straight games, tied for the fourth-longest streak by a Big Ten player since 1996-97. This season, he has 14 games with 20 or more points, which leads the Big Ten and high-major players nationwide. Dating back to last season, he has 32 such games, which ranks second nationally. Over the last two seasons, Martinelli has scored 1,079 points, which ranks third nationally and the most by a forward.

Martinelli's 23.7 points per game would rank third in program history, trailing 1969-70 Dave Kelly (24.3) and 1954-55 Frank Ehman (23.9).
Martinelli is the third player within the last 20 years to average 23+ points and 6+ rebounds on at least 56% shooting, joining Cameron Boozer (Duke) this season and Zach Edey (Purdue) in 2023-24.
Martinelli is the seventh Big Ten player to ever average 23+ points and 6+ rebounds on at least 56% shooting.
Martinelli would be the first Northwestern player to average 20+ points per game in back-to-back campaigns since Jim Burns (1965-66, 1966-67).
Martinelli has 26 games with 20+ points and 5+ rebounds dating back to last season, which leads the nation.
Over his last nine games, Martinelli is averaging 27.2 points per game.
Martinelli has 1,431 career points, which ranks 15th in Northwestern history. He needs 12 points to pass Vic Law (2014-19) to move into 14th-place.
Last season, Martinelli set program records in single-season points (676) and single-season field goals made (251).

The Wildcats have continued to share the ball without turning it over, as their 2.10 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks second in the nation. Northwestern is averaging the nation's fewest turnovers (8.5), which ranks as the fewest turnovers per game in program history, while ranking 25th in the country with 17.8 assists per game.

Northwestern's +2.8 turnover margin ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 49th nationally.
The Wildcats are forcing opponents to shoot 30.5% from beyond the arc, the 55th-best three-point defense in the nation.
Northwestern has upped its pace this season, averaging 13.4 fast break points per game — ranking third in the Big Ten.
The Wildcats are averaging 4.1 blocks per game, which ranks seventh in the Big Ten. It is the fourth most blocks in a single-season in program history, trailing 2016-17 (4.9), 2017-18 (4.3), and 2018-19 (4.2).
Northwestern has played seven games decided by five points or fewer, which leads the Big Ten. Over the past four seasons, the Wildcats have played 42 such games, which also leads the conference and ranks tied for 11th nationally.

Northwestern's offense has been prolific through the first half of the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 77.3 points per game, its most since 1970-71 (81.6). The team's 17.8 assists per game is tied with the 1993-94 season for the most in program history.

Junior guard Jayden Reid has averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 assists per game (4th in Big Ten). His 5.5 assists per game would rank tied for second in program history, along with Pat Baldwin (1992-93) and trailing only Bryant McIntosh (6.7) in 2015-16. Junior forward Arrinten Page is averaging 12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game (11th in Big Ten) while shooting 57.7% from the floor.

First-year forward Tre Singleton has 15 starts this season (3rd on team) and is averaging 7.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. His 7.4 points per game are the most by a Wildcat first-year since the 2019-20 season (Boo Buie: 10.3, Ryan Young: 9.0).
Sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino has posted career-highs across the board with 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 54.1% shooting.

Northwestern is traveling to Los Angeles for Big Ten play for the first time in program history to face the Trojans (14-4, 3-4 Big Ten). Wednesday's matchup will be the 10th meeting between the two squads, with the Trojans currently holding a slim 5-4 lead. Northwestern is 1-3 in games played in Los Angeles, last winning 38-35 on Dec. 23, 1948.

When the teams faced off in their first-ever Big Ten matchup last season, Martinelli capped off a 27-point, 13-rebound outing by hitting the game-winning shot with fewer than three seconds remaining, as the Wildcats won 77-75 on Feb. 5, 2025.

USC hosts the 'Cats having lost three of its last five games. Last time out, the Trojans fell to No. 5 Purdue, 69-64, at home. Chad Baker-Mazara is the Big Ten's sixth-leading scorer with 18.9 points per game, while Ezra Ausar ranks 13th in the conference with 16.1 points per game. USC is averaging 83.4 points per game, the fifth-best mark in the conference and its third-most in program history.

USC has a knack for getting to the charity stripe, leading the Big Ten and ranking fifth nationally in free throw attempts per game (27.8). They make 20.1 per game (1st in Big Ten, 7th nationally).
The Trojans' 5.9 blocks per game rank ninth nationally. Jacob Cofie leads the team with 1.7 blocks per game.
USC is shooting 47.4% from the field (7th in Big Ten, 76th nationally), while holding opponents to 41.7% shooting (6th in Big Ten, 70th nationally).
The Trojans' 37.6 rebounds per game rank sixth in the Big Ten.
USC is forcing opponents to turn the ball over 13.3 times per game, which ranks third in the conference.

Northwestern continues its West Coast trip when it takes on UCLA on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. CT on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.