Sunday, January 26
Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
12-8,3-6Big Ten
74
at
83
#17 Illinois
14-6,6-4Big Ten
1
2
F
Northwestern
21
53
74
Illinois
43
40
83
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern’s Late Rally Not Enough in Setback at No. 17 Illinois
1/26/2025 5:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Northwestern scored 53 second half points, including 21 points over a four-minute stretch, but fell to No. 17 Illinois 83-74 in Champaign on Sunday afternoon, splitting the season series.
The Wildcats (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) drained 10-of-25 (44.6%) of their 3-point attempts, converting 10+ threes in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Graduate student Jalen Leach and junior Nick Martinelli led Northwestern in scoring with 17 points apiece.
In addition to his 17 points, Leach tallied four assists. Leach has registered at least 17 points and four assists in each of Northwestern's last three matchups against ranked opponents (Jan. 12 vs. Michigan State, Jan. 19 at Michigan, Jan. 26 at Illinois). Leach has scored 15+ points in four of his last five contests and has recorded at least four assists in a career-best five consecutive games.
Martinelli tied his season-high with three treys and has scored 17+ points in a career-best five consecutive games.
Gallery: (1-26-2025) Men's Basketball at #17 Illinois
Graduate student Ty Berry tallied 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Berry has scored 10+ points in a season-best four consecutive games. He recorded his 10th game of the season and 50th game of his career with 10+ points.
Graduate student Keenan Fitzmorris registered his most productive game as a Wildcat with season-highs of eight points and three rebounds.
The 'Cats had a season-high 35 points off the bench, led by Berry's 10.
The Wildcats held the Fighting Illini to 29-of-65 shooting (44.6%) from the field. Northwestern has held its opponent to under 45% shooting from the field in four consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since Feb. 25-March 9, 2022.
Northwestern fell into a 43-21 deficit by halftime, converting just 8-of-31 (25.8%) of its field goal attempts, while being outrebounded, 27-13. The Wildcats' outscored the Fighting Illini (14-6, 6-4 Big Ten) 53-40 in the second half. Northwestern has scored over 50 points in the second half in consecutive games.
Leach scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, while Martinelli had 11 of his points in the second half. Northwestern had 25 of its 35 bench points in this half of play.
The Wildcats had a late surge after trailing by 23 points with five minutes remaining in the contest. They went on a 12-1 run from 2:36 to 0:42 in the second half and made its final eight field goal attempts of the game.
Northwestern returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena and starts a three-game homestand against Rutgers on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
The Wildcats (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) drained 10-of-25 (44.6%) of their 3-point attempts, converting 10+ threes in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Graduate student Jalen Leach and junior Nick Martinelli led Northwestern in scoring with 17 points apiece.
In addition to his 17 points, Leach tallied four assists. Leach has registered at least 17 points and four assists in each of Northwestern's last three matchups against ranked opponents (Jan. 12 vs. Michigan State, Jan. 19 at Michigan, Jan. 26 at Illinois). Leach has scored 15+ points in four of his last five contests and has recorded at least four assists in a career-best five consecutive games.
Martinelli tied his season-high with three treys and has scored 17+ points in a career-best five consecutive games.
Graduate student Ty Berry tallied 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Berry has scored 10+ points in a season-best four consecutive games. He recorded his 10th game of the season and 50th game of his career with 10+ points.
Graduate student Keenan Fitzmorris registered his most productive game as a Wildcat with season-highs of eight points and three rebounds.
The 'Cats had a season-high 35 points off the bench, led by Berry's 10.
The Wildcats held the Fighting Illini to 29-of-65 shooting (44.6%) from the field. Northwestern has held its opponent to under 45% shooting from the field in four consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since Feb. 25-March 9, 2022.
Northwestern fell into a 43-21 deficit by halftime, converting just 8-of-31 (25.8%) of its field goal attempts, while being outrebounded, 27-13. The Wildcats' outscored the Fighting Illini (14-6, 6-4 Big Ten) 53-40 in the second half. Northwestern has scored over 50 points in the second half in consecutive games.
Leach scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, while Martinelli had 11 of his points in the second half. Northwestern had 25 of its 35 bench points in this half of play.
The Wildcats had a late surge after trailing by 23 points with five minutes remaining in the contest. They went on a 12-1 run from 2:36 to 0:42 in the second half and made its final eight field goal attempts of the game.
Northwestern returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena and starts a three-game homestand against Rutgers on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
NU
Illini
FG%
.441
.446
3FG%
.400
.281
FT%
.667
.667
RB
27
50
TO
6
13
STL
6
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
C
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