Northwestern Topples Mercyhurst in Season-Opener, 70-47

EVANSTON, Ill. —  Northwestern began its 2025-26 campaign with a 70-47 win over Mercyhurst on Monday night in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
 
The Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) took down the Lakers (0-1, 0-0 NEC) in a wire-to-wire victory. Northwestern has won 17 of its past 18 season-openers, including each of the last six opening games under Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins.
 

Started the season off right?? pic.twitter.com/7aW50pL13C

— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 4, 2025

 
"We're excited to get the win tonight," Collins said. "We're obviously a work in progress. We did a lot of good things, and there were some things you have to clean up. Give Mercyhurst credit. They have a system that requires a lot of talk and communication."
 
Junior forward Arrinten Page became the first player to post a double-double in his NU debut since at least 2004, recording a career-high 18 points, 12 rebounds, one steal and a block. Senior forward Nick Martinelli chipped in 17 points and five rebounds on 4-of-8 shooting.
 
"Coach put a really good game plan together," Page said. "It felt like we as a whole team executed. I was just the person that benefited tonight."
 
Sophomore guard K.J. Windham joined Page and Martinelli in double figures, scoring 11 points off the bench and converting 4-of-6 3-pointers.
 
Collins said Windham, who logged 21 minutes in the win, provided a significant energy infusion whenever he stepped on the floor.
 
"His ability to shoot the ball can break games open," Collins said. "He's got a good disposition to him. He's the kind of guy that's always ready."
 
The 'Cats held the visitors to a 30% shooting percentage and relented just one make in 18 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. This marks the lowest opposing 3-point percentage that Northwestern has allowed since Illinois went 0-of-11 on 3-pointers in a 68-66 NU win on Jan. 6, 2019.
 
"We always put an emphasis on our defense," Martinelli said. "[Chris Lowery], he's no joke. Last week, he didn't think we met his expectations, so we were getting after it in practice. We were ready."
 
After Page won the opening tip, the hosts wasted little time pushing the action. First-year forward Tre Singleton knocked down a fadeaway jumper to open the scoring on the game's first possession.
 
In a physical first half, Northwestern converted 16 free throws and built a 36-25 halftime advantage. NU commanded the battle on the boards with a 27-11 rebounding edge.
 
Martinelli paced all scorers in the opening 20 minutes with 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting and turned in an 8-of-8 clip from the foul line.
 
The Wildcats held Mercyhurst to a 32.1% field goal percentage and a 1-of-9 3-point-rate. The Lakers didn't make a field goal in the first half's final four minutes.
 
Northwestern rattled off a 14-2 run early in the second half to build a 50-29 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the contest. The hosts maintained their stronghold down the stretch and held Mercyhurst to just 22 second-half points in a convincing win.



"Overall, to hold them to 47 points was a really good defensive performance," Collins said. "I thought we were a little bit anxious on the offensive end. But [it's the] first night, everybody's excited, trying to do a little too much. We'll clean that up."
 
The Wildcats return to action at home on Friday, Nov. 7 against Boston University. Tip-off from Welsh-Ryan Arena is slated for 5 p.m. CT on Peacock and WGN 720.