Northwestern
7-1,1-0Big Ten
Detroit Mercy
0-10,0-2Horizon
Northwestern Improves to 7-1 with 91-59 Rout of Detroit Mercy
12/10/2023 3:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Behind a career-high 22 points from Nick Martinelli, Northwestern trounced Detroit Mercy 91-56 in a wire-to-wire win inside Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats improved to 7-1 this season, their best start to a season through eight games since 2015-16 (7-1).
Perfect at home ?
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) December 10, 2023
A career-high 22 for headband Nick ?? pic.twitter.com/kEED9BVKTe
Northwestern had four players score in double figures, led by Martinelli's career mark on 10-of-12 shooting from the field. Ryan Langborg added 19 points, four assists and four steals and Ty Berry chipped in 16 points. Brooks Barnhizer nearly notched a double-double, contributing 13 points, seven assists and a team-best nine rebounds. As a team, NU posted 29 assists, its most since notching 29 against Iowa on Jan. 15, 2017.
Martinelli is the first Wildcat to make 10+ field goals on over 80% shooting since John Shurna scored 26 points on 10-of–11 shooting from the field against Long Island on Dec. 13, 2010.
Northwestern did an excellent job taking care of the basketball dishing out 29 assists on 34 fade field goals, while turning the ball over seven times. Boo Buie led the way for the Wildcats with eight assists, making this the third-straight game he has surpassed seven assists. Entering the day, the 'Cats led the nation in ball security, averaging just 8.0 turnovers per game.
Luke Hunger set a career-high with nine points, while walk-on Gus Hurlburt scored the first points of his career.
Detroit Mercy (0-10) was led by Marcus Tankersley's 23 points.First career points for the BUS ?? @GusHurlburt pic.twitter.com/rI27VomaEX
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) December 10, 2023
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 24-17 advantage, Northwestern went on a 5-0 run with 8:34 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Barnhizer, to increase its lead to 29-17. The Wildcats entered halftime with a 43-33 advantage, shooting 53.8% (7-for-13) from distance. Langborg led the 'Cats with 16 points at the break.
The 'Cats opened the second half on a 9-0 run and continued to roll from there. Northwestern kept widening its lead, expanding it to 78-54 before going on a 9-0 run, finished off by Martinelli's jumper, to grow the lead to 87-54 with 2:46 to go in the contest. Martinelli and Ty Berry tied for the team lead with 11 points each in the second half, while Barnhizer chipped in eight points and five assists.
Game Notes
» The Wildcats scored 80+ points for the third straight game, their longest streak since doing so in four-straight from Nov. 9 to Nov. 18, 2021.» Martinelli is the first Big Ten guard or forward to score 22+ points on 80% shooting or higher this season. Only centers Zach Edey of Purdue and Kel'el Ware of Indiana have done so this season in the Big Ten.
» Martinelli's 22 points are the most by a Wildcat off the bench since Boo Buie dropped 26 against Michigan State as a first-year on Dec. 18, 2019.
» Northwestern turned the ball over seven times while dishing out 29 assists.
» The 'Cats outscored the Titans 40-20 on points in the paint.
» NU has outscored its opponent in the paint in every game this season.
Northwestern concludes its season-long four-game homestand at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Dec. 13 against Chicago State. The game will air on BTN and WGN Radio 720.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
