Wednesday, January 29
Evanston, Ill.
8 p.m. CT
Northwestern
12-9,3-7Big Ten
72
vs
79
Rutgers
11-10,4-6Big Ten
1
2
F
Rutgers
43
36
79
Northwestern
35
37
72
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Hot Shooting Scarlet Knights Down Wildcats, 79-72
1/30/2025 12:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Behind a 57.1% performance from the field, Rutgers defeated Northwestern 79-72 on Wednesday night inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Northwestern's (12-9, 3-7 Big Ten) 72 points were its most against Rutgers in a regulation game since March 9, 2017, when it scored 83 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Wildcats have scored 70+ points in five consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 1990.
Graduate student Jalen Leach tallied a team-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field while dishing out four assists. Leach's 23 points were his most points scored in a Big Ten game in his career and his most points in a conference game since March 9, 2024, when he scored 29 against Mount St. Mary's. Leach registered his third 20+ point game of the season and second most points as a Wildcat.
"His aggressiveness has really been good," Sullivan-Ubben Head Coach Collins said. "He's finding his way at this level. It was an adjustment for him early in the year, but really proud of how he's kind of navigating the defenses that are thrown at him."
Junior Nick Martinelli recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. Martinelli recorded his third double-double of the season and first since Nov. 9 against Dayton, the second game of the season. He has scored 15+ points in nine Big Ten games this season, which is tied for the most in the conference. Martinelli has scored 15+ points in nine of his last 10 games.
Senior Brooks Barnhizer recorded 10 points, nine rebounds, and a team-best six assists. Barnhizer notched his eighth 10+ point, 7+ rebound, and 5+ assist game this season, which ranks atop the Big Ten. Barnhizer had his 55th 10+ point game of his career. First-year Angelo Ciaravino scored five points, his most since being named a starter on Jan. 16, and blocked a career-high three shots.
Northwestern registered 16 assists on its 25 made field goals and have had 15+ assists in three consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since Jan. 24-31, 2024. The 'Cats pulled down 11 offensive rebounds compared to the Scarlet Knights' five. Northwestern has recorded 10+ rebounds in six of its last eight games.
Within five and a half minutes of the opening tip, the 'Cats jumped out to a 13-4 lead, aided by an early 9-0 run. That was Northwestern's largest lead of the game, as Rutgers had an 8-0 run shortly thereafter to grab the lead. After taking the lead with a shade under seven minutes left, the Scarlet Knights never gave it back.
At halftime, the 'Cats trailed 43-35. Rutgers shot 16-of-24 (66.7%) from the field while knocking down 5-of-8 (57.1%) 3-point attempts. Northwestern made 13-of-24 (54.2%) of its shots in the first half.
"After the first five minutes, our defense really slipped from there," Collins said.
The Scarlet Knights (11-10, 4-6 Big Ten) led the entire second half. Ace Bailey led all scorers with 37 points.
The Wildcats play the second contest of their three-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 1 against No. 17 Wisconsin at 1 p.m. CT. The game will air on FS1 and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Northwestern's (12-9, 3-7 Big Ten) 72 points were its most against Rutgers in a regulation game since March 9, 2017, when it scored 83 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Wildcats have scored 70+ points in five consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 1990.
Graduate student Jalen Leach tallied a team-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field while dishing out four assists. Leach's 23 points were his most points scored in a Big Ten game in his career and his most points in a conference game since March 9, 2024, when he scored 29 against Mount St. Mary's. Leach registered his third 20+ point game of the season and second most points as a Wildcat.
"His aggressiveness has really been good," Sullivan-Ubben Head Coach Collins said. "He's finding his way at this level. It was an adjustment for him early in the year, but really proud of how he's kind of navigating the defenses that are thrown at him."
Junior Nick Martinelli recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. Martinelli recorded his third double-double of the season and first since Nov. 9 against Dayton, the second game of the season. He has scored 15+ points in nine Big Ten games this season, which is tied for the most in the conference. Martinelli has scored 15+ points in nine of his last 10 games.
Senior Brooks Barnhizer recorded 10 points, nine rebounds, and a team-best six assists. Barnhizer notched his eighth 10+ point, 7+ rebound, and 5+ assist game this season, which ranks atop the Big Ten. Barnhizer had his 55th 10+ point game of his career. First-year Angelo Ciaravino scored five points, his most since being named a starter on Jan. 16, and blocked a career-high three shots.
Northwestern registered 16 assists on its 25 made field goals and have had 15+ assists in three consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since Jan. 24-31, 2024. The 'Cats pulled down 11 offensive rebounds compared to the Scarlet Knights' five. Northwestern has recorded 10+ rebounds in six of its last eight games.
Within five and a half minutes of the opening tip, the 'Cats jumped out to a 13-4 lead, aided by an early 9-0 run. That was Northwestern's largest lead of the game, as Rutgers had an 8-0 run shortly thereafter to grab the lead. After taking the lead with a shade under seven minutes left, the Scarlet Knights never gave it back.
At halftime, the 'Cats trailed 43-35. Rutgers shot 16-of-24 (66.7%) from the field while knocking down 5-of-8 (57.1%) 3-point attempts. Northwestern made 13-of-24 (54.2%) of its shots in the first half.
"After the first five minutes, our defense really slipped from there," Collins said.
The Scarlet Knights (11-10, 4-6 Big Ten) led the entire second half. Ace Bailey led all scorers with 37 points.
The Wildcats play the second contest of their three-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 1 against No. 17 Wisconsin at 1 p.m. CT. The game will air on FS1 and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Team Stats
RU
NU
FG%
.571
.424
3FG%
.571
.318
FT%
.600
.833
RB
26
33
TO
8
10
STL
5
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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