Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, January 24
Los Angeles, Calif.
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
9-11,1-8Big Ten
64
at
71
UCLA
14-6,6-3Big Ten
1
2
F
Northwestern
31
33
64
UCLA
41
30
71
NU Splits West Coast Road Trip, Falls 71-64 at UCLA
1/24/2026 7:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES — Despite a late surge, Northwestern fell 71-64 to UCLA on Saturday afternoon in Pauley Pavilion.
Three nights after prevailing on the road over USC, the Wildcats (9-11, 1-8 Big Ten) couldn't overcome the Bruins (14-6, 6-3 Big Ten) to ultimately split their two California matchups.
"I'm proud of the effort," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "That's what our program's been about. In the last couple games out here in California, we played with a fighting spirit."
Senior forward Nick Martinelli tallied a team-high 20 points, eight rebounds and two assists. He extended his streak of 20-plus-point games to an NCAA-best 11.
Gallery: (1-24-2026) Men's Basketball vs. UCLA
First-year forward Tre Singleton pitched in 12 points and six rebounds. Saturday marked Singleton's sixth-career game in double figures.
Making his second consecutive start, sophomore guard Max Green scored nine points and tied his season-high with six rebounds. Green canned 3-of-5 shots from beyond the arc.
Junior guard Jordan Clayton knocked down a career-high three three-pointers en route to a nine-point display.
Momentum shifted back and forth early on, with four first-half lead changes. But a late UCLA run pushed the margin into double figures. By halftime, the hosts led 41-31.
Martinelli paced Northwestern's first-half scoring effort, recording 10 points in the frame. The Wildcats built a 17-16 edge on the glass in the first 20 minutes.
While the Bruins extended their lead to a game-high 16 points with 12:50 to play, the Wildcats battled back into contention with a valiant late-game stretch. NU made five of its last six shots from the field and held UCLA to just one make on its final seven attempts as the visitors trimmed the lead down to six late.
But the Bruins held on to extend their unbeaten record at home this season to 12-0.
"We were struggling, a lot of down heads," Collins said. "We regained some spirit in our team. We played incredibly hard. We gave ourselves a chance after being down 16. There's stuff to build off of."
"It's been a long week. These West Coast trips take a lot out of you. We have to get home, regroup and get ourselves a chance to be ready to play at home on Thursday night."
The Wildcats will be back in action at home against Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tipoff from Welsh-Ryan Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Peacock and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Three nights after prevailing on the road over USC, the Wildcats (9-11, 1-8 Big Ten) couldn't overcome the Bruins (14-6, 6-3 Big Ten) to ultimately split their two California matchups.
"I'm proud of the effort," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "That's what our program's been about. In the last couple games out here in California, we played with a fighting spirit."
Senior forward Nick Martinelli tallied a team-high 20 points, eight rebounds and two assists. He extended his streak of 20-plus-point games to an NCAA-best 11.
First-year forward Tre Singleton pitched in 12 points and six rebounds. Saturday marked Singleton's sixth-career game in double figures.
Making his second consecutive start, sophomore guard Max Green scored nine points and tied his season-high with six rebounds. Green canned 3-of-5 shots from beyond the arc.
Junior guard Jordan Clayton knocked down a career-high three three-pointers en route to a nine-point display.
Defensively, the 'Cats forced 10 turnovers, six of which came in the second half.Trio of treys for @Jclayton_13 ?? pic.twitter.com/bzhlAhID7o
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) January 25, 2026
Momentum shifted back and forth early on, with four first-half lead changes. But a late UCLA run pushed the margin into double figures. By halftime, the hosts led 41-31.
Martinelli paced Northwestern's first-half scoring effort, recording 10 points in the frame. The Wildcats built a 17-16 edge on the glass in the first 20 minutes.
While the Bruins extended their lead to a game-high 16 points with 12:50 to play, the Wildcats battled back into contention with a valiant late-game stretch. NU made five of its last six shots from the field and held UCLA to just one make on its final seven attempts as the visitors trimmed the lead down to six late.
But the Bruins held on to extend their unbeaten record at home this season to 12-0.
"We were struggling, a lot of down heads," Collins said. "We regained some spirit in our team. We played incredibly hard. We gave ourselves a chance after being down 16. There's stuff to build off of."
"It's been a long week. These West Coast trips take a lot out of you. We have to get home, regroup and get ourselves a chance to be ready to play at home on Thursday night."
The Wildcats will be back in action at home against Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tipoff from Welsh-Ryan Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Peacock and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Team Stats
NU
UCLA
FG%
.377
.491
3FG%
.304
.444
FT%
.850
.524
RB
32
34
TO
9
10
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball - UCLA Postgame Press Conference (1/24/26)
Sunday, January 25
Men's Basketball - 'Cats Fall at UCLA (1/24/26)
Sunday, January 25
Men'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
