Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, December 6
Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Ohio State
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Hosts Ohio State for Big Ten Conference Home Opener
12/5/2025 12:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball returns home to play its Big Ten home opener inside Welsh-Ryan Arena when it faces Ohio State on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Jordan Taylor (analyst) on the call, and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 387 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
Last time out, the Wildcats (5-3, 0-1 Big Ten) fell at Wisconsin, 85-73, as a late comeback surge fell short. Junior forward Arrinten Page logged 21 points, six rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. He became the first Northwestern player to log these numbers in Big Ten competition since Alex Olah in 2014. Senior forward Nick Martinelli contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, while first-year forward Tre Singleton posted eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins is in his 13th season guiding the Wildcats. With 199 career wins in Evanston, he is one victory shy of joining Naismith Hall of Famer Dutch Lonborg (1927-50) as the only head coaches in program history to reach 200 wins.
Northwestern has made 50.4% of its field goal attempts, ranking sixth in the Big Ten and 32nd nationally. It is the highest percentage the team has shot over the season's first eight games during the Chris Collins era. On the other end, the Wildcats have held opponents to shoot a combined 39.5% this season (5th in Big Ten). In addition, Northwestern is forcing opponents to make just 29.2% of their shots from beyond the arc (4th).
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 9.3 times per game — the second-fewest in the Big Ten and the 11th-fewest nationwide — while posting a 1.95 assist/turnover ratio (3rd in Big Ten, 7th nationally). Northwestern's offense has averaged 81.0 points per game, scoring at least 70 points in each game this season.
Martinelli has scored in double-figures in 33 of his last 34 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 19.8 points (7th in Big Ten) and 6.8 rebounds (14th) per game while converting 56.7% of his shot attempts (8th). Martinelli is just one of three high-major players nationwide to average 19+ points and 6+ rebounds per game on at least 55% shooting. He is also one of four players nationwide to average 19+ points per game both last season and this season. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has scored 20+ points 23 times, which leads the Big Ten. He has 25 career games with 20+ points, which ranks fourth among Northwestern players dating back to 2004.
Transfer acquisitions Page and junior guard Jayden Reid have made an instant impact for Northwestern. Page, who comes to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 15.8 points (21st in Big Ten), 6.9 rebounds (13th), 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks (12th) per game on 60.6% shooting (6th). He is the country's only player to average these numbers and is the fifth player in NCAA history to average these numbers, joining Claude Williams (North Carolina A&T, 1987-88), Chris Webber (Michigan, 1992-93), Bo Outlaw (Houston, 1992-93), and Marqus Blakely (2008-09). Page has reached double-figures in seven of his first eight games in a Northwestern jersey, and has scored the most points in a player's first eight career games as a Wildcat (126) since at least 1996-97.
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 12.1 points and 5.9 assists per game (5th in Big Ten). Reid has recorded 5+ assists in five of his past seven games. He posted season-highs of 25 points against Virginia (Nov. 21) and had nine assists versus South Carolina (Nov. 23). Both marked the most by a Northwestern guard since Boo Buie reached those figures in the 2023-24 season.
Singleton, the Wildcats' highest-ranked recruit in program history, is averaging 7.6 points and (12th among Big Ten first-years) and 5.5 rebounds per game (3rd) on 52.5% shooting. His 61 points in his first eight games of the season mark the most by a Wildcat first-year in his first eight games since Ryan Young scored 74 in the 2019-20 season. Singleton has started all eight games this season, and his eight starts are the most by a Northwestern first-year since the 2021-22 season when Julian Roper started 15 games.
Saturday's matchup marks the earliest meeting between the Wildcats and the Buckeyes (6-1, 0-0 Big Ten) in program history. Last time the teams faced off, Northwestern claimed its largest margin of victory in Columbus in series history as it defeated Ohio State 70-49. The Wildcats have defeated the Buckeyes in three straight games for the first time since 1966-67 and are looking to win four straight for the first time since 1929-34 (7). Northwestern has won each of its last two Big Ten home openers, defeating No. 19 Illinois (2024) and No. 1 Purdue (2023).
Most recently, Ohio State lost to Pittsburgh on a game-winner, 67-66. The Buckeyes have one of the most efficient offenses in the country, shooting a conference-leading 52.3% from the floor en route to averaging 88.7 points per game (4th in Big Ten). They have won their seven contests so far by an average of 21.4 points, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally. Ohio State has four 14+ point per game scorers in Bruce Thornton (20.6), Christoph Tilly (15.3), John Mobley (14.9), and Devin Royal (14.0).
The Wildcats resume nonconference play when it hosts Jackson State on Saturday, Dec. 13, inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Last time out, the Wildcats (5-3, 0-1 Big Ten) fell at Wisconsin, 85-73, as a late comeback surge fell short. Junior forward Arrinten Page logged 21 points, six rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. He became the first Northwestern player to log these numbers in Big Ten competition since Alex Olah in 2014. Senior forward Nick Martinelli contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, while first-year forward Tre Singleton posted eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins is in his 13th season guiding the Wildcats. With 199 career wins in Evanston, he is one victory shy of joining Naismith Hall of Famer Dutch Lonborg (1927-50) as the only head coaches in program history to reach 200 wins.
Northwestern has made 50.4% of its field goal attempts, ranking sixth in the Big Ten and 32nd nationally. It is the highest percentage the team has shot over the season's first eight games during the Chris Collins era. On the other end, the Wildcats have held opponents to shoot a combined 39.5% this season (5th in Big Ten). In addition, Northwestern is forcing opponents to make just 29.2% of their shots from beyond the arc (4th).
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 9.3 times per game — the second-fewest in the Big Ten and the 11th-fewest nationwide — while posting a 1.95 assist/turnover ratio (3rd in Big Ten, 7th nationally). Northwestern's offense has averaged 81.0 points per game, scoring at least 70 points in each game this season.
Martinelli has scored in double-figures in 33 of his last 34 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 19.8 points (7th in Big Ten) and 6.8 rebounds (14th) per game while converting 56.7% of his shot attempts (8th). Martinelli is just one of three high-major players nationwide to average 19+ points and 6+ rebounds per game on at least 55% shooting. He is also one of four players nationwide to average 19+ points per game both last season and this season. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has scored 20+ points 23 times, which leads the Big Ten. He has 25 career games with 20+ points, which ranks fourth among Northwestern players dating back to 2004.
Transfer acquisitions Page and junior guard Jayden Reid have made an instant impact for Northwestern. Page, who comes to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 15.8 points (21st in Big Ten), 6.9 rebounds (13th), 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks (12th) per game on 60.6% shooting (6th). He is the country's only player to average these numbers and is the fifth player in NCAA history to average these numbers, joining Claude Williams (North Carolina A&T, 1987-88), Chris Webber (Michigan, 1992-93), Bo Outlaw (Houston, 1992-93), and Marqus Blakely (2008-09). Page has reached double-figures in seven of his first eight games in a Northwestern jersey, and has scored the most points in a player's first eight career games as a Wildcat (126) since at least 1996-97.
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 12.1 points and 5.9 assists per game (5th in Big Ten). Reid has recorded 5+ assists in five of his past seven games. He posted season-highs of 25 points against Virginia (Nov. 21) and had nine assists versus South Carolina (Nov. 23). Both marked the most by a Northwestern guard since Boo Buie reached those figures in the 2023-24 season.
Singleton, the Wildcats' highest-ranked recruit in program history, is averaging 7.6 points and (12th among Big Ten first-years) and 5.5 rebounds per game (3rd) on 52.5% shooting. His 61 points in his first eight games of the season mark the most by a Wildcat first-year in his first eight games since Ryan Young scored 74 in the 2019-20 season. Singleton has started all eight games this season, and his eight starts are the most by a Northwestern first-year since the 2021-22 season when Julian Roper started 15 games.
Saturday's matchup marks the earliest meeting between the Wildcats and the Buckeyes (6-1, 0-0 Big Ten) in program history. Last time the teams faced off, Northwestern claimed its largest margin of victory in Columbus in series history as it defeated Ohio State 70-49. The Wildcats have defeated the Buckeyes in three straight games for the first time since 1966-67 and are looking to win four straight for the first time since 1929-34 (7). Northwestern has won each of its last two Big Ten home openers, defeating No. 19 Illinois (2024) and No. 1 Purdue (2023).
Most recently, Ohio State lost to Pittsburgh on a game-winner, 67-66. The Buckeyes have one of the most efficient offenses in the country, shooting a conference-leading 52.3% from the floor en route to averaging 88.7 points per game (4th in Big Ten). They have won their seven contests so far by an average of 21.4 points, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally. Ohio State has four 14+ point per game scorers in Bruce Thornton (20.6), Christoph Tilly (15.3), John Mobley (14.9), and Devin Royal (14.0).
The Wildcats resume nonconference play when it hosts Jackson State on Saturday, Dec. 13, inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
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/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball - Ohio State Postgame Presser (12/6/25)
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