USC Trojans at Northwestern Wildcats
· NCAA Men's Basketball
Northwestern uses Martinelli's last second heroics to stave off USC 77-75
Martinelli split a double team near the baseline and softly laid it in to give Northwestern (13-10, 4-8 Big Ten) the lead in the closing seconds. Out of a timeout, USC put the ball in the hands of Clark Slajchert who took a few dribbles before a Wildcats defender knocked it out of bounds and time expired.
Slajchert converted a four-point play on a straight-away 3-pointer and a free throw with 29 seconds left to tie it at 75-all. With 1:54 left and USC trailing 72-67, Slajchert also drew a foul on Blake Smith from beyond the arc and made 1 of 3 from the line.
Northwestern led 33-31 and stretched the margin to 15 points, 59-44, over the first 10 minutes of the second half before USC fought its way back but never took the lead.
Martinelli recorded a career-high 10 offensive rebounds and reserve Justin Mullins scored 14 points for Northwestern.
Slajchert scored 24 points, shooting 9 for 11, Wesley Yates III scored 15 points and Chibuzo Agbo 14 for USC (13-9, 5-6).
USC plays at No. 7 Purdue on Friday. Northwestern plays at Washington on Saturday.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 75 - 77 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 75 - 77 |
| 2nd 0:02 | USC Timeout | 75 - 77 |
| 2nd 0:02 | Nick Martinelli made Jumper. | 75 - 77 |
| 2nd 0:12 | Northwestern Timeout | 75 - 75 |
Statistics
 USC |
 NU |
|
|---|---|---|
| 26-51 | FG | 27-66 |
| 51 | Field Goal % | 41 |
| 9-18 | 3PT | 6-19 |
| 50 | Three Point % | 32 |
| 14-21 | FT | 17-23 |
| 67 | Free Throw % | 74 |
| 27 | Rebounds | 43 |
| 7 | Offensive Rebounds | 23 |
| 20 | Defensive Rebounds | 20 |
| 15 | Assists | 14 |
| 2 | Steals | 3 |
| 4 | Blocks | 2 |
| 9 | Turnovers | 7 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 9 | Total Turnovers | 7 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 9 | Points Off Turnovers | 12 |
| 5 | Fast Break Points | 0 |
| 28 | Points in Paint | 32 |
| 20 | Fouls | 18 |
| 5 | Largest Lead | 15 |
Game Information
Location: Evanston, IL
Attendance: 5,440 | Capacity:
2025-26 Big Ten Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 2-0 | - | 12-0 |
| Michigan | 2-0 | - | 11-0 |
| Michigan State | 2-0 | - | 11-1 |
| Purdue | 2-0 | - | 11-1 |
| UCLA | 2-0 | - | 10-3 |
| USC | 1-1 | 1 | 12-1 |
| Iowa | 1-1 | 1 | 10-2 |
| Indiana | 1-1 | 1 | 10-3 |
| Illinois | 1-1 | 1 | 9-3 |
| Ohio State | 1-1 | 1 | 9-3 |
| Washington | 1-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Wisconsin | 1-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Minnesota | 1-1 | 1 | 7-5 |
| Penn State | 0-2 | 2 | 8-4 |
| Northwestern | 0-2 | 2 | 7-5 |
| Maryland | 0-2 | 2 | 6-6 |
| Oregon | 0-2 | 2 | 6-6 |
| Rutgers | 0-2 | 2 | 6-6 |