Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, February 8
Iowa City, Iowa
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
10-14,2-11Big Ten
70
at
76
Iowa
18-5,8-4Big Ten
1
2
F
Northwestern
35
35
70
Iowa
39
37
76
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
West Records Career-High 18 Points in NU’s 76-70 loss at Iowa
2/8/2026 4:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
IOWA CITY, Iowa — First-year guard Jake West and senior forward Nick Martinelli combined for 39 points as Northwestern fell 76-70 to Iowa on Sunday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
"There's no moral victories in our program," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We're playing to win. We're disappointed that we're going home with a close loss."
The Wildcats (10-14, 2-11 Big Ten) cut the margin down to one possession in the closing minutes but couldn't deny the Hawkeyes (18-5, 8-4 Big Ten) a sixth straight conference win.
Gallery: (2-8-2026) Men's Basketball vs. Iowa
Martinelli scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed four rebounds. The senior canned three shots from beyond the arc.
Making his eighth consecutive start, West tallied 18 points and four assists on 7-of-8 shooting. West converted 4-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. He is the first NU first-year to post these figures since at least 2004-05.
First-year forward Tre Singleton joined Martinelli and West in double figures with 10 points and four rebounds on 3-of-5 shooting.
The Wildcats shot an efficient 57.1% clip from longe range and held Iowa to just five 3-pointers — its lowest in Big Ten play this season.
NU led by as many as six points in the first half, but a late Iowa surge helped the hosts build a 39-35 halftime lead. Martinelli and West each chipped in eight first-half points, with West shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field in the frame.
The 'Cats held Iowa scoreless from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes of action, while knocking down 5-of-7 3-pointers at the other end. Northwestern amassed a 50% field goal percentage in the first half.
The hosts jumped out to a strong start in the second half, but the Wildcats launched a 13-2 run to trim a 13-point Iowa lead down to 56-53 with nine minutes remaining.
Nearly seven minutes later, West drained an outside jumper to cut the Hawkeyes' advantage to 70-67 with 2:04 to play. A Martinelli 3-pointer brought Northwestern back within four points in the final minute, but Iowa held on..
"The effort and the fight were terrific," Collins said. "We had a good spirit to us. Our guys played incredibly hard. There's little things that are just holding us back from getting over the bridge and getting some good wins."
The Wildcats will be back in action at home on Wednesday, Feb. 11, against No. 2 Michigan. Tipoff from Welsh-Ryan Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
"There's no moral victories in our program," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We're playing to win. We're disappointed that we're going home with a close loss."
The Wildcats (10-14, 2-11 Big Ten) cut the margin down to one possession in the closing minutes but couldn't deny the Hawkeyes (18-5, 8-4 Big Ten) a sixth straight conference win.
Martinelli scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed four rebounds. The senior canned three shots from beyond the arc.
Making his eighth consecutive start, West tallied 18 points and four assists on 7-of-8 shooting. West converted 4-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. He is the first NU first-year to post these figures since at least 2004-05.
First-year forward Tre Singleton joined Martinelli and West in double figures with 10 points and four rebounds on 3-of-5 shooting.
JAKE WEST JAM ?? pic.twitter.com/0ObkMP7cfP
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) February 8, 2026
The Wildcats shot an efficient 57.1% clip from longe range and held Iowa to just five 3-pointers — its lowest in Big Ten play this season.
NU led by as many as six points in the first half, but a late Iowa surge helped the hosts build a 39-35 halftime lead. Martinelli and West each chipped in eight first-half points, with West shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field in the frame.
The 'Cats held Iowa scoreless from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes of action, while knocking down 5-of-7 3-pointers at the other end. Northwestern amassed a 50% field goal percentage in the first half.
The hosts jumped out to a strong start in the second half, but the Wildcats launched a 13-2 run to trim a 13-point Iowa lead down to 56-53 with nine minutes remaining.
Nearly seven minutes later, West drained an outside jumper to cut the Hawkeyes' advantage to 70-67 with 2:04 to play. A Martinelli 3-pointer brought Northwestern back within four points in the final minute, but Iowa held on..
"The effort and the fight were terrific," Collins said. "We had a good spirit to us. Our guys played incredibly hard. There's little things that are just holding us back from getting over the bridge and getting some good wins."
The Wildcats will be back in action at home on Wednesday, Feb. 11, against No. 2 Michigan. Tipoff from Welsh-Ryan Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
NU
Iowa
FG%
.467
.453
3FG%
.571
.313
FT%
.909
.793
RB
22
34
TO
10
8
STL
2
6
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Men's Basketball - Iowa Postgame Press Conference (2/8/26)
Monday, February 09
Men's Basketball - Northwestern Drops Road Contest at Iowa (2/8/26)
Sunday, February 08
Men's Basketball - Illinois Postgame Press Conference (2/4/26)
Thursday, February 05
Men's Basketball - Wildcats Fall at No. 5 Illinois (2/4/26)
Thursday, February 05
