Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 7
Evanston, Ill.
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Boston University
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats Continue Homestand on Friday Night against Boston University
11/6/2025 3:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball plays the middle game of a three-game homestand inside Welsh-Ryan Arena against Boston University on Friday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on Peacock with Ed Cohen (play-by-play) and Tre Demps (analyst) on the call and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 380 with Andy Masur (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
The Wildcats (1-0) lifted the lid on their 2025-26 season by overpowering Mercyhurst, 70-47, on Monday night. Northwestern forced the Lakers to shoot just 5.6% (1-of-17) from beyond the arc, the lowest percentage by a Wildcat opponent since 2019. One of the Big Ten's best defenses of late, Northwestern improved to 44-4 (.917) over the last four seasons when surrendering 65 or fewer points, which is the best win percentage in the league over that span (min. 40 games).
In addition, Northwestern pulled down 49 rebounds, its most in a regulation contest since 2020 against Quincy (55). Junior forward Arrinten Page, who transferred to Northwestern ahead of this season from Cincinnati, posted career-highs 18 points and 12 rebounds. He became the first Wildcat to record a double-double in their debut for the school since at least 2004. Senior forward Nick Martinelli contributed 17 points and five rebounds, scoring 15+ points in 19 straight games dating back to last season, which leads high major players. Sophomore guard K.J. Windham tallied 11 points and a career-best seven rebounds while draining three 3-pointers.
Martinelli received significant preseason attention ahead of his final year in Evanston. The 6-foot-7 forward has been named to the Naismith Player of the Year Watch List, the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List, and was a 2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten selection. Last season, Martinelli became the fourth Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 20.5 points per game in 2024-25. His average marked the highest by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer (21.7, 1997-98). Martinelli's 676 total points broke the school's single-season scoring record, previously held by John Shurna (661, 2011-12).
Martinelli is the fifth-leading returning scorer in all of college basketball this season, and is second among all scorers who are returning to the school they played at in 2024-25, joining Markus Burton (Notre Dame, 21.3 ppg). The Glenview, Ill., product has scored 15+ points in 19 straight games dating back to last season, the longest active streak by a high-major player in the country. Martinelli has scored in double figures in 27 straight games, the longest streak by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer (1997-99, 65). Martinelli played a league-high 37.7 minutes per game last season and was the first high-major player to post at least 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 37.5+ minutes per game since Kemba Walker at UConn in 2010-11.
Northwestern has reached the NCAA Tournament in two of the past three seasons and has posted a winning record in each of the last three seasons. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins, the second-winningest coach in program history, has led Northwestern to 38 Big Ten wins over the past four seasons (2021-25), equaling the four-year stretch from 1930-34 as the most over a four-season period in school history. Last April, Collins inked a multi-year contract extension through 2030.
Boston University makes just its second trip to face Northwestern and its first since 1959 on Friday evening. The 'Cats defeated the Terriers 78-74 on Dec. 19, 1959, the only prior meeting between the two schools, behind a 62-40 advantage on the glass. Northwestern is 14-1 against the Patriot League, most recently claiming a 90-46 victory over Lehigh in the 2024-25 season opener.
Despite trailing by as many as 10 points, Boston University (1-0) defeated crosstown foe Northeastern 76-75 in overtime on Monday night at Matthews Arena with the help of 20+ point performances by Sam Hughes and Ben Defty. Led by 15th-year head coach Joe Jones, the Terriers were picked second in the Patriot League preseason poll. BU returns three starters from last season's team which finished tied for third in the conference with a 10-8 mark.
Northwestern concludes its three-game season-opening homestand by facing Cleveland State on Monday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
The Wildcats (1-0) lifted the lid on their 2025-26 season by overpowering Mercyhurst, 70-47, on Monday night. Northwestern forced the Lakers to shoot just 5.6% (1-of-17) from beyond the arc, the lowest percentage by a Wildcat opponent since 2019. One of the Big Ten's best defenses of late, Northwestern improved to 44-4 (.917) over the last four seasons when surrendering 65 or fewer points, which is the best win percentage in the league over that span (min. 40 games).
In addition, Northwestern pulled down 49 rebounds, its most in a regulation contest since 2020 against Quincy (55). Junior forward Arrinten Page, who transferred to Northwestern ahead of this season from Cincinnati, posted career-highs 18 points and 12 rebounds. He became the first Wildcat to record a double-double in their debut for the school since at least 2004. Senior forward Nick Martinelli contributed 17 points and five rebounds, scoring 15+ points in 19 straight games dating back to last season, which leads high major players. Sophomore guard K.J. Windham tallied 11 points and a career-best seven rebounds while draining three 3-pointers.
Sometimes you just know it's good @kj_windham10 pic.twitter.com/mxXj9l7l5g
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 4, 2025
Martinelli received significant preseason attention ahead of his final year in Evanston. The 6-foot-7 forward has been named to the Naismith Player of the Year Watch List, the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List, and was a 2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten selection. Last season, Martinelli became the fourth Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 20.5 points per game in 2024-25. His average marked the highest by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer (21.7, 1997-98). Martinelli's 676 total points broke the school's single-season scoring record, previously held by John Shurna (661, 2011-12).
Martinelli is the fifth-leading returning scorer in all of college basketball this season, and is second among all scorers who are returning to the school they played at in 2024-25, joining Markus Burton (Notre Dame, 21.3 ppg). The Glenview, Ill., product has scored 15+ points in 19 straight games dating back to last season, the longest active streak by a high-major player in the country. Martinelli has scored in double figures in 27 straight games, the longest streak by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer (1997-99, 65). Martinelli played a league-high 37.7 minutes per game last season and was the first high-major player to post at least 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 37.5+ minutes per game since Kemba Walker at UConn in 2010-11.
Northwestern has reached the NCAA Tournament in two of the past three seasons and has posted a winning record in each of the last three seasons. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins, the second-winningest coach in program history, has led Northwestern to 38 Big Ten wins over the past four seasons (2021-25), equaling the four-year stretch from 1930-34 as the most over a four-season period in school history. Last April, Collins inked a multi-year contract extension through 2030.
Boston University makes just its second trip to face Northwestern and its first since 1959 on Friday evening. The 'Cats defeated the Terriers 78-74 on Dec. 19, 1959, the only prior meeting between the two schools, behind a 62-40 advantage on the glass. Northwestern is 14-1 against the Patriot League, most recently claiming a 90-46 victory over Lehigh in the 2024-25 season opener.
Despite trailing by as many as 10 points, Boston University (1-0) defeated crosstown foe Northeastern 76-75 in overtime on Monday night at Matthews Arena with the help of 20+ point performances by Sam Hughes and Ben Defty. Led by 15th-year head coach Joe Jones, the Terriers were picked second in the Patriot League preseason poll. BU returns three starters from last season's team which finished tied for third in the conference with a 10-8 mark.
Northwestern concludes its three-game season-opening homestand by facing Cleveland State on Monday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Players Mentioned
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