Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, January 21
Los Angeles, Calif.
10 p.m. CT
Northwestern
9-10,1-7Big Ten
74
at
68
USC
14-5,3-5Big Ten
1
2
F
Northwestern
31
43
74
Southern California
28
40
68
Northwestern Earns Gutsy 74-68 Road Win at USC
1/22/2026 1:43:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES — Senior forward Nick Martinelli posted a game-high 22 points, five rebounds and five assists to lift Northwestern to a 74-68 win over USC on Wednesday night inside Galen Center.
"We've had a couple of really good spirited days," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We've had some good dialogue as a team. What we talked about as we started this road trip was, 'Guys, we're going to work hard, we're going to have fun, the vibe is going to be good and the energy is going to be good."
Martinelli extended his streak of 20-plus-point scoring outings to a nation-best 10 games behind a 17-point second-half downpour.
"Today we just came out and fought our butts off," Martinelli said. "We played together and played Northwestern basketball. Man, I love having that N on my chest."
"My instincts were to shake it up and start those young kids," Collins said. "How great did they play on the road? Nick did his thing, and we needed other guys tonight."
Kropp finished with a near-double-double, tallying 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and nine rebounds in his first-career start. The first-year set career highs in points, rebounds and assists during the victory.
West chipped in 11 points, five assists and three rebounds on Wednesday night. The guard helped Northwestern rack up 22 assists to just six turnovers.
"He's a fighter, and he's got the baby face looks, but he scraps out there and he competes," Collins said of West. "We competed all night. That's what I loved. If we do that, we're going to put ourselves in a position to win a lot more games the rest of the way."
Defensively, Northwestern held USC to a 38.5% field goal percentage and just 2-for-13 from three-point range. The two three-pointers marks the fewest treys the Wildcats have allowed in Big Ten play since March 6, 2024, at Michigan State.
While the Trojans jumped out to an early 20-13 edge, their 24-23 advantage with just under six minutes to play in the first half marked their final lead of the game. A last-second Martinelli 3-pointer gave Northwestern a 31-28 halftime lead, and the visitors didn't let up from that juncture.
Although USC tested NU up until the closing moments, the 'Cats made five of their final six shots from the field to secure a crucial conference win.
"Guys had winning looks," Collins said. "We were talking about winning in every huddle. There were just some big plays down the stretch. Lots of heroes tonight, and just a fun night for the 'Cats."
The Wildcats will continue their West Coast swing with a matchup against UCLA on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tipoff from Pauley Pavilion is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.
"We've had a couple of really good spirited days," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We've had some good dialogue as a team. What we talked about as we started this road trip was, 'Guys, we're going to work hard, we're going to have fun, the vibe is going to be good and the energy is going to be good."
The Wildcats (9-10, 1-7 Big Ten) carried a three-point lead into halftime and never trailed in the second half to secure a road win over the Trojans (14-5, 3-5 Big Ten).FOUGHT FOR VICTORY ?? pic.twitter.com/m5LiDayhN2
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) January 22, 2026
Martinelli extended his streak of 20-plus-point scoring outings to a nation-best 10 games behind a 17-point second-half downpour.
"Today we just came out and fought our butts off," Martinelli said. "We played together and played Northwestern basketball. Man, I love having that N on my chest."
Tre Singleton, Tyler Kropp and Jake West all earned starting nods, marking the most first-years in an NU starting lineup since the 2019-20 season.?? straight with 20+ ?? @N_Martinelli1 pic.twitter.com/8kf7wDe15Q
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) January 22, 2026
"My instincts were to shake it up and start those young kids," Collins said. "How great did they play on the road? Nick did his thing, and we needed other guys tonight."
Kropp finished with a near-double-double, tallying 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and nine rebounds in his first-career start. The first-year set career highs in points, rebounds and assists during the victory.
West chipped in 11 points, five assists and three rebounds on Wednesday night. The guard helped Northwestern rack up 22 assists to just six turnovers.
"He's a fighter, and he's got the baby face looks, but he scraps out there and he competes," Collins said of West. "We competed all night. That's what I loved. If we do that, we're going to put ourselves in a position to win a lot more games the rest of the way."
Wednesday's clash marked sophomore guard Max Green's first start as a Wildcat. Green scored eight points on 4-of-8 shooting and added three assists and three rebounds.West Coast Jake West™?
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) January 22, 2026
?? @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/STtwcIBu2l
Defensively, Northwestern held USC to a 38.5% field goal percentage and just 2-for-13 from three-point range. The two three-pointers marks the fewest treys the Wildcats have allowed in Big Ten play since March 6, 2024, at Michigan State.
While the Trojans jumped out to an early 20-13 edge, their 24-23 advantage with just under six minutes to play in the first half marked their final lead of the game. A last-second Martinelli 3-pointer gave Northwestern a 31-28 halftime lead, and the visitors didn't let up from that juncture.
Although USC tested NU up until the closing moments, the 'Cats made five of their final six shots from the field to secure a crucial conference win.
"Guys had winning looks," Collins said. "We were talking about winning in every huddle. There were just some big plays down the stretch. Lots of heroes tonight, and just a fun night for the 'Cats."
The Wildcats will continue their West Coast swing with a matchup against UCLA on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tipoff from Pauley Pavilion is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
NU
USC
FG%
.452
.385
3FG%
.200
.154
FT%
.833
.605
RB
33
39
TO
6
6
STL
3
3
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball - USC Postgame Press Conference (1/21/26)
Thursday, January 22
Men's Basketball - Wildcats Upend Trojans, 74-68 (1/22/26)
Thursday, January 22
Men's Basketball - Nebraska Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, January 18
Men's Basketball - 'Cats Fall to No. 8 Nebraska (1/17/25)
Saturday, January 17
