Northwestern University Athletics
Tuesday, December 30
Evanston, Ill.
4 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Howard
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Closes Non-Conference Play by Hosting Howard
12/29/2025 12:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball closes out the 2025 calendar year and non-conference play for the season on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 4 p.m. CT when it faces Howard inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Big Ten Network with Telly Hughes (play-by-play) and Rapheal Davis (analyst) on the call and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 380 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
Playing without their leading scorer Nick Martinelli due to injury, the Wildcats (7-5, 0-2 Big Ten) late comeback effort against Butler fell short in a 61-58 setback at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Wildcats' defense limited the Bulldogs to 61 points on just 37.9% (22-of-58) shooting from the field, both their second-lowest marks of the season. Northwestern forced 14 turnovers, while turning the ball over just nine times. Junior guard Jayden Reid led the team with 14 points and six assists.
Northwestern has played six games decided by five points or fewer this season, which is tied for the second most in the nation. Over the last four seasons, the 'Cats have played 41 games (20-21) decided by five points or fewer, tied for the sixth most in the country over that span.
The team has made 49.1% of its field goal attempts (6th in Big Ten, 49th nationally), the highest percentage the team has shot over the season's first 12 games during the Chris Collins era. The Wildcats are scoring 80.6 points per game, their most through 12 games of a season since 1989-90 (83.6).
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 9.5 times per game — the second fewest in the Big Ten and the 13th-fewest nationwide — while posting a 1.94 assist/turnover ratio (3rd in Big Ten, 6th nationally). Northwestern is averaging 18.4 assists per game (6th in Big Ten, 30th nationally). Compared to previous seasons, Northwestern is playing at a faster pace and is averaging 14.2 fastbreak points per game (3rd in Big Ten).
So far this season, Martinelli is averaging 21.9 points (2nd in Big Ten, 9th nationally) and 6.6 rebounds (18th in Big Ten) per game while converting 59.4% of his shot attempts (5th). Martinelli would join Zach Edey (2022-23, 2023-24) as the only Big Ten players to record these numbers in a season in the past 20 years. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has 26 games with 20+ points, which leads the Big Ten. His eight games with 20+ points this season lead the conference, and his eight 20+ point, 5+ rebound games rank second in the nation. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 917 points dating back to last season, which ranks third in the country and is the most by a forward.
Junior forward Arrinten Page, who came to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 14.7 points (25th in Big Ten), 6.8 rebounds (13th), 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks (12th) per game on 58.6% shooting (9th). Page has reached double figures in eight of his last nine games and has scored the most points in a player's first 12 career games as a Wildcat (176) since at least 1996-97.
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 11.8 points and 5.5 assists per game (5th in Big Ten). Reid is one of four Big Ten players to have eight games with 5+ assists this season. He has recorded 10+ points and 5+ assists in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino is averaging career highs across the board with 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 57.6% from the floor. Ciaravino has scored over 10 points five times in his career, with three of those times coming within his last six games.
Northwestern, which is 25-2 (.926) in home non-conference games over the past four seasons, is set to take on the Bison (9-5) for the second time in program history. The teams last faced off on Dec. 20, 2007, as the Wildcats claimed a 77-51 win inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern is 11-0 against teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; Collins is 1-0.
Howard is led by Bryce Harris, who averages a MEAC-best 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Forcing 15.9 turnovers per game (25th nationally), the Bison boast a strong defense. They allow 70.7 points per game, which ranks atop the conference. Howard is quick to get out in transition, as its 15.0 fast break points per game ranks second in the MEAC.
Northwestern resumes Big Ten play on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 4 p.m. CT when it hosts Minnesota inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Big Ten Network and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Playing without their leading scorer Nick Martinelli due to injury, the Wildcats (7-5, 0-2 Big Ten) late comeback effort against Butler fell short in a 61-58 setback at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Wildcats' defense limited the Bulldogs to 61 points on just 37.9% (22-of-58) shooting from the field, both their second-lowest marks of the season. Northwestern forced 14 turnovers, while turning the ball over just nine times. Junior guard Jayden Reid led the team with 14 points and six assists.
Northwestern has played six games decided by five points or fewer this season, which is tied for the second most in the nation. Over the last four seasons, the 'Cats have played 41 games (20-21) decided by five points or fewer, tied for the sixth most in the country over that span.
The team has made 49.1% of its field goal attempts (6th in Big Ten, 49th nationally), the highest percentage the team has shot over the season's first 12 games during the Chris Collins era. The Wildcats are scoring 80.6 points per game, their most through 12 games of a season since 1989-90 (83.6).
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 9.5 times per game — the second fewest in the Big Ten and the 13th-fewest nationwide — while posting a 1.94 assist/turnover ratio (3rd in Big Ten, 6th nationally). Northwestern is averaging 18.4 assists per game (6th in Big Ten, 30th nationally). Compared to previous seasons, Northwestern is playing at a faster pace and is averaging 14.2 fastbreak points per game (3rd in Big Ten).
So far this season, Martinelli is averaging 21.9 points (2nd in Big Ten, 9th nationally) and 6.6 rebounds (18th in Big Ten) per game while converting 59.4% of his shot attempts (5th). Martinelli would join Zach Edey (2022-23, 2023-24) as the only Big Ten players to record these numbers in a season in the past 20 years. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has 26 games with 20+ points, which leads the Big Ten. His eight games with 20+ points this season lead the conference, and his eight 20+ point, 5+ rebound games rank second in the nation. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 917 points dating back to last season, which ranks third in the country and is the most by a forward.
Junior forward Arrinten Page, who came to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 14.7 points (25th in Big Ten), 6.8 rebounds (13th), 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks (12th) per game on 58.6% shooting (9th). Page has reached double figures in eight of his last nine games and has scored the most points in a player's first 12 career games as a Wildcat (176) since at least 1996-97.
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 11.8 points and 5.5 assists per game (5th in Big Ten). Reid is one of four Big Ten players to have eight games with 5+ assists this season. He has recorded 10+ points and 5+ assists in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino is averaging career highs across the board with 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 57.6% from the floor. Ciaravino has scored over 10 points five times in his career, with three of those times coming within his last six games.
Northwestern, which is 25-2 (.926) in home non-conference games over the past four seasons, is set to take on the Bison (9-5) for the second time in program history. The teams last faced off on Dec. 20, 2007, as the Wildcats claimed a 77-51 win inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern is 11-0 against teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; Collins is 1-0.
Howard is led by Bryce Harris, who averages a MEAC-best 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Forcing 15.9 turnovers per game (25th nationally), the Bison boast a strong defense. They allow 70.7 points per game, which ranks atop the conference. Howard is quick to get out in transition, as its 15.0 fast break points per game ranks second in the MEAC.
Northwestern resumes Big Ten play on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 4 p.m. CT when it hosts Minnesota inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Big Ten Network and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
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