Northwestern University Athletics
Tuesday, December 16
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Valparaiso
Wildcats Welcome Valparaiso for Non-Conference Tilt
12/15/2025 1:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball closes a three-game homestand when it takes on Valparaiso on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Peacock with George Savaricas (play-by-play) and Tre Demps (analyst) on the call, and can be heard on ESPN 1000 WMVP and SiriusXM Channel 389 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Nate Taphorn (analyst).
Last time out, the Wildcats (6-4, 0-2 Big Ten) dominated Jackson State, 93-53. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins recorded his 200th career victory, joining Naismith Hall of Famer Dutch Lonborg (1927-50) as the only head coaches in program history to reach 200 wins. It marked Northwestern's second 40-point victory of the season, only the second time in program history the Wildcats have beaten two opponents by at least 40 points. Northwestern shot 50.0% (28-of-56) from the floor, while holding the Tigers to 28.6% (16-of-56) shooting.
Northwestern has made 50.1% of its field goal attempts (5th in Big Ten), the highest percentage the team has shot over the season's first 10 games during the Collins era. The Wildcats are scoring 82.3 points per game, the most through 10 games of a season since 1990-91. Northwestern has posted at least 70 points in each game this season, marking the first time the Wildcats have scored 70+ points in 10 consecutive games for the first time since the first 10 games of the 1990-91 season (Nov. 23, 1990-Jan. 3, 1991).
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 9.8 times per game — the third-fewest in the Big Ten and the 26th-fewest nationwide — while posting a 1.9 assist/turnover ratio (3rd in Big Ten, 10th nationally). Northwestern is averaging 18.6 assists per game (6th in Big Ten, 27th nationally). Compared to previous years, Northwestern is playing at a faster pace and has averaged 14.9 fastbreak points per game (2nd in Big Ten).
Martinelli has scored in double-figures in 35 of his last 36 games, and had a streak of 30 games, the longest by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (1997-99, 65). So far this season, Martinelli is averaging 21.2 points (3rd in Big Ten, 11th nationally) and 6.7 rebounds (15th in Big Ten) per game while converting 58.9% of his shot attempts (8th). Martinelli is the nation's second-most efficient 20-point per game scorer and is also the nation's only player averaging 20+ points and 6+ rebounds per game on at least 57% shooting. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has scored 20+ points 24 times, which leads the Big Ten. His seven games with 20+ points this season lead the conference, and his seven 20+ point, 5+ rebound games are tied for second in the nation. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 888 points dating back to last season, which ranks fourth in the NCAA and is the most by a forward.
Transfer acquisitions Page and junior guard Jayden Reid have made an immediate impact for Northwestern. Page, who comes to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 15.1 points (20th in Big Ten), 7.1 rebounds (11th), 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks (13th) per game on 60.4% shooting (5th). He would be just the sixth player in NCAA history to post these numbers in a season. Page has reached double-figures in seven straight games, and has scored the most points in a player's first 10 career games as a Wildcat (151) since at least 1996-97.
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 11.5 points and 5.5 assists per game (5th in Big Ten). Reid has recorded 5+ assists in six of his past nine games. His 5.5 assists per game rank second in program history, trailing only Bryant McIntosh (6.7) in the 2015-16 season. He is having the eighth 5+ assist per game season in program history.
Ciaravino is averaging career-highs across the board with 7.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 60.8% from the floor. Ciaravino has the highest field goal percentage of any guard averaging at least 7 points per game in the country. The Chicago native has tallied 10+ points three times within his last four games, and he has become the first Northwestern underclassman to post consecutive 10+ point, 5+ rebound games since Martinelli from March 6-9, 2024. Ciaravino is the first Wildcat underclassman to average 7+ points, 4+ rebounds and 2+ assists since Drew Crawford (2010-11).
Northwestern will take on the Beacons (6-4) for the 12th time in program history, with 10 of the previous 11 matchups coming between 1967 and 1979. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 9-2 and have won seven straight. The teams last faced off on Dec. 14, 2017, when Northwestern notched an 84-50 victory at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. The Wildcats have won four consecutive matchups against members of the Missouri Valley Conference dating back to 2017.
Valparaiso, making its first trip to Evanston since 1979, has split its last four matchups, most recently narrowly losing to UNC Wilmington, 73-70. The Beacons bring an all-around scoring attack with six players averaging between seven and 12 points per game. The team ranks second in the MVC and 41st nationally with 33.4 bench points per game. Valparaiso is also a strong team on the offensive glass, pulling down 14.2 offensive rebounds per game — leading the MVC and ranking 30th nationally.
Northwestern will travel to Indianapolis for the Indy Classic against Butler on Saturday, Dec. 20. The game will be the Wildcats' penultimate non-conference matchup. Tipoff from Indianapolis is set for 3 p.m. CT on Peacock and Varsity Network.
Last time out, the Wildcats (6-4, 0-2 Big Ten) dominated Jackson State, 93-53. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins recorded his 200th career victory, joining Naismith Hall of Famer Dutch Lonborg (1927-50) as the only head coaches in program history to reach 200 wins. It marked Northwestern's second 40-point victory of the season, only the second time in program history the Wildcats have beaten two opponents by at least 40 points. Northwestern shot 50.0% (28-of-56) from the floor, while holding the Tigers to 28.6% (16-of-56) shooting.
Senior forward Nick Martinelli tallied a game-high 22 points and five rebounds on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor in just 22 minutes, while sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino continued his upward trajectory by posting 13 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 5-of-6 from the field. Junior forward Arrinten Page logged 12 points and seven rebounds.2??0??0??@coach_collins secures his 200th career win! pic.twitter.com/4yS3eO8sX5
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) December 13, 2025
Northwestern has made 50.1% of its field goal attempts (5th in Big Ten), the highest percentage the team has shot over the season's first 10 games during the Collins era. The Wildcats are scoring 82.3 points per game, the most through 10 games of a season since 1990-91. Northwestern has posted at least 70 points in each game this season, marking the first time the Wildcats have scored 70+ points in 10 consecutive games for the first time since the first 10 games of the 1990-91 season (Nov. 23, 1990-Jan. 3, 1991).
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 9.8 times per game — the third-fewest in the Big Ten and the 26th-fewest nationwide — while posting a 1.9 assist/turnover ratio (3rd in Big Ten, 10th nationally). Northwestern is averaging 18.6 assists per game (6th in Big Ten, 27th nationally). Compared to previous years, Northwestern is playing at a faster pace and has averaged 14.9 fastbreak points per game (2nd in Big Ten).
Martinelli has scored in double-figures in 35 of his last 36 games, and had a streak of 30 games, the longest by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (1997-99, 65). So far this season, Martinelli is averaging 21.2 points (3rd in Big Ten, 11th nationally) and 6.7 rebounds (15th in Big Ten) per game while converting 58.9% of his shot attempts (8th). Martinelli is the nation's second-most efficient 20-point per game scorer and is also the nation's only player averaging 20+ points and 6+ rebounds per game on at least 57% shooting. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has scored 20+ points 24 times, which leads the Big Ten. His seven games with 20+ points this season lead the conference, and his seven 20+ point, 5+ rebound games are tied for second in the nation. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 888 points dating back to last season, which ranks fourth in the NCAA and is the most by a forward.
Transfer acquisitions Page and junior guard Jayden Reid have made an immediate impact for Northwestern. Page, who comes to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 15.1 points (20th in Big Ten), 7.1 rebounds (11th), 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks (13th) per game on 60.4% shooting (5th). He would be just the sixth player in NCAA history to post these numbers in a season. Page has reached double-figures in seven straight games, and has scored the most points in a player's first 10 career games as a Wildcat (151) since at least 1996-97.
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 11.5 points and 5.5 assists per game (5th in Big Ten). Reid has recorded 5+ assists in six of his past nine games. His 5.5 assists per game rank second in program history, trailing only Bryant McIntosh (6.7) in the 2015-16 season. He is having the eighth 5+ assist per game season in program history.
Ciaravino is averaging career-highs across the board with 7.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 60.8% from the floor. Ciaravino has the highest field goal percentage of any guard averaging at least 7 points per game in the country. The Chicago native has tallied 10+ points three times within his last four games, and he has become the first Northwestern underclassman to post consecutive 10+ point, 5+ rebound games since Martinelli from March 6-9, 2024. Ciaravino is the first Wildcat underclassman to average 7+ points, 4+ rebounds and 2+ assists since Drew Crawford (2010-11).
Northwestern will take on the Beacons (6-4) for the 12th time in program history, with 10 of the previous 11 matchups coming between 1967 and 1979. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 9-2 and have won seven straight. The teams last faced off on Dec. 14, 2017, when Northwestern notched an 84-50 victory at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. The Wildcats have won four consecutive matchups against members of the Missouri Valley Conference dating back to 2017.
Valparaiso, making its first trip to Evanston since 1979, has split its last four matchups, most recently narrowly losing to UNC Wilmington, 73-70. The Beacons bring an all-around scoring attack with six players averaging between seven and 12 points per game. The team ranks second in the MVC and 41st nationally with 33.4 bench points per game. Valparaiso is also a strong team on the offensive glass, pulling down 14.2 offensive rebounds per game — leading the MVC and ranking 30th nationally.
Northwestern will travel to Indianapolis for the Indy Classic against Butler on Saturday, Dec. 20. The game will be the Wildcats' penultimate non-conference matchup. Tipoff from Indianapolis is set for 3 p.m. CT on Peacock and Varsity Network.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball - Jackson State Postgame Press Conference
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