Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, December 6
Evanston, Ill.
8 p.m. CT
Northwestern
7-3,1-1Big Ten
70
vs
66
#19 Illinois
6-2,0-1Big Ten
1
2
OT 1
F
Illinois
27
29
10
66
Northwestern
24
32
14
70
Northwestern Defeats No. 19 Illinois for Third Straight Season at Home, 70-66
12/7/2024 12:31:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Led by junior Nick Martinelli's 27 points, 23 of which came in the second half and overtime, Northwestern rallied back from a 10-point deficit to defeat No. 19 Illinois 70-66 in overtime on Friday night inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Wildcats (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) recorded its seventh win over a ranked Big Ten opponent over the last three seasons, which leads the Big Ten. Northwestern has tallied ranked wins in consecutive conference home openers after defeating No. 1 Purdue and No. 10 Illinois last year. The Fighting Illini's (6-2, 0-1 Big Ten) 66 points were tied for its fewest points this season, and their 27 first-half points were their fewest of the season.
The Wildcats have registered consecutive wins over the Fighting Illini for the first time since wins in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, and Northwestern has now won three straight home games against Illinois for the first time since 1966-68.
Martinelli's 27 points mark his career-high in conference play. He became the first Wildcat to score 25+ points, grab 5+ rebounds, and block 2+ shots since John Shurna on Feb. 12, 2012. The game marked his fourth 25-point performance of the season. Senior Brooks Barnhizer, playing all 45 minutes, logged 17 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. He became the first Northwestern player since at least 2005-06 to record three consecutive double-doubles. He also had his fifth career 3-steal, 2-block performance of his career, the 12th such performance by any Wildcat since 2005-06.
With 0:39 remaining in overtime, graduate student Matthew Nicholson recorded his 100th career block with a chase-down block with Northwestern leading 67-66. Graduate student Jalen Leach logged 16 points and five assists after leading Northwestern in first-half points with eight points. He scored his 1,000th career point on a free throw with 0:28 remaining in overtime to put the Wildcats up 68-66.
Northwestern entered the second half trailing 27-24 after a tight first half, but after eight minutes, the Fighting Illini jumped out to a 42-34 lead after a 7-0 run, at which point the under-12 media timeout commenced.
Gallery: (12-6-2024) MBB vs. Illinois
"I kind of noticed the offense was starting to disintegrate our defense a little bit," Collins said. They were getting kind of loose. We had some miscommunications. … I sensed the game was getting away from us and just really challenged our guys to refocus."
The 'Cats then went on an 8-0 run from 9:15 to 6:51 in the second half to cut the Illinois lead to just two at 46-44. But with two minutes remaining, Northwestern trailed 55-50 before Leach converted two free throws to cut the lead to three.
Just a few possessions later, Barnhizer brought the ball up across the timeline and drove left to shoot a fadeaway jumper in the middle of the lane to even the game at 56-56.
"As the game wore on, we finally found some matchups," Collins said. "They were switching some things, and to me, don't overcoach. If you can get your best guy on a guy that you really like their matchup, just keep running it. And we did that down the stretch."
Martinelli scored on the first possession of overtime, giving Northwestern its first lead since 5:36 in the first half. He ultimately poured in seven of the team's first nine points in the third period.
"I just had a little more size on the guy that was guarding me, and we did a good job spacing," Martinelli said. "It helps when you have Jalen, Ty and Brooks on the perimeter. They're great shooters. If I spit one out, they're going to make it, so they can't really help off me."
Leach scored the 'Cats' next four points, including reaching the 1,000 point mark, while Nicholson's block put the game to rest. Northwestern is now 2-0 in overtime games this season.
Next up, Northwestern travels to Milwaukee for the MKE Tip-Off to take on Georgia Tech on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. CT. The game will air on BTN and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
The Wildcats (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) recorded its seventh win over a ranked Big Ten opponent over the last three seasons, which leads the Big Ten. Northwestern has tallied ranked wins in consecutive conference home openers after defeating No. 1 Purdue and No. 10 Illinois last year. The Fighting Illini's (6-2, 0-1 Big Ten) 66 points were tied for its fewest points this season, and their 27 first-half points were their fewest of the season.
"For us to hold that team to 66 in 45 minutes, that's a hell of a defensive effort by my kids," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "The fact we had them at 27 at half when we only had 24 was huge because it enabled us to kind of regroup."TOUGHNESS. 'CATS WIN. pic.twitter.com/CyNAWQlrVe
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) December 7, 2024
The Wildcats have registered consecutive wins over the Fighting Illini for the first time since wins in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, and Northwestern has now won three straight home games against Illinois for the first time since 1966-68.
Martinelli's 27 points mark his career-high in conference play. He became the first Wildcat to score 25+ points, grab 5+ rebounds, and block 2+ shots since John Shurna on Feb. 12, 2012. The game marked his fourth 25-point performance of the season. Senior Brooks Barnhizer, playing all 45 minutes, logged 17 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. He became the first Northwestern player since at least 2005-06 to record three consecutive double-doubles. He also had his fifth career 3-steal, 2-block performance of his career, the 12th such performance by any Wildcat since 2005-06.
With 0:39 remaining in overtime, graduate student Matthew Nicholson recorded his 100th career block with a chase-down block with Northwestern leading 67-66. Graduate student Jalen Leach logged 16 points and five assists after leading Northwestern in first-half points with eight points. He scored his 1,000th career point on a free throw with 0:28 remaining in overtime to put the Wildcats up 68-66.
Northwestern entered the second half trailing 27-24 after a tight first half, but after eight minutes, the Fighting Illini jumped out to a 42-34 lead after a 7-0 run, at which point the under-12 media timeout commenced.
"I kind of noticed the offense was starting to disintegrate our defense a little bit," Collins said. They were getting kind of loose. We had some miscommunications. … I sensed the game was getting away from us and just really challenged our guys to refocus."
The 'Cats then went on an 8-0 run from 9:15 to 6:51 in the second half to cut the Illinois lead to just two at 46-44. But with two minutes remaining, Northwestern trailed 55-50 before Leach converted two free throws to cut the lead to three.
Just a few possessions later, Barnhizer brought the ball up across the timeline and drove left to shoot a fadeaway jumper in the middle of the lane to even the game at 56-56.
"As the game wore on, we finally found some matchups," Collins said. "They were switching some things, and to me, don't overcoach. If you can get your best guy on a guy that you really like their matchup, just keep running it. And we did that down the stretch."
Martinelli scored on the first possession of overtime, giving Northwestern its first lead since 5:36 in the first half. He ultimately poured in seven of the team's first nine points in the third period.
"I just had a little more size on the guy that was guarding me, and we did a good job spacing," Martinelli said. "It helps when you have Jalen, Ty and Brooks on the perimeter. They're great shooters. If I spit one out, they're going to make it, so they can't really help off me."
Leach scored the 'Cats' next four points, including reaching the 1,000 point mark, while Nicholson's block put the game to rest. Northwestern is now 2-0 in overtime games this season.
Next up, Northwestern travels to Milwaukee for the MKE Tip-Off to take on Georgia Tech on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. CT. The game will air on BTN and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Team Stats
Illini
NU
FG%
.373
.389
3FG%
.265
.190
FT%
.636
.588
RB
44
44
TO
11
4
STL
2
5
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
11
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
C
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