Northwestern Begins Two-Game Homestand on Thursday against Penn State

Thursday, January 29

Evanston, Ill.

7 p.m. CT

Northwestern

Penn State

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Northwestern Begins Two-Game Homestand on Thursday against Penn State

1/28/2026 5:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Charlie Spungin, NUSports.com

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball returns home to host Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. CT. The game will air on Peacock with Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Tre Demps (analyst) on the call, and it can be heard on ESPN 1000 WMVP and SiriusXM Channel 392 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).

Last time out (Jan. 24), the Wildcats (9-11, 1-8 Big Ten) visited UCLA for the first time since 1948 but fell 71-64. Senior forward Nick Martinelli logged 20 points, eight rebounds, and two assists in 37 minutes of action, posting his 30th career game with 20+ points and 5+ rebounds. First-year forward Tre Singleton notched 12 points, converting a career-high 7-of-8 free throws, and six rebounds, with one steal. His seven made free throws were the most by a Northwestern first-year since Ryan Young made eight against Hartford on Dec. 29, 2019. The Wildcats split their Los Angeles trip, defeating USC 74-68 on Jan. 21.

This season, Martinelli leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in scoring, averaging 23.4 points per game, while converting 54.2% of his field goal attempts (6th in Big Ten). The Glenview, Ill. native is pulling down 6.8 rebounds per game (18th). He is shooting 48.1% from 3-point distance, the 21st-best mark nationally, per KenPom. Martinelli has scored 20+ points in 11 straight games, the third-longest streak by a Big Ten player since 1996-97, behind Iowa's Luka Garza (2020, 19) and Purdue's Zach Edey (2024, 16). It is also the longest active streak in the nation and tied for the 14th-longest streak by a high-major player since 1996-97. This season, Martinelli has 16 games with 20 or more points, which leads the country. Over the last two seasons, Martinelli has scored 1,121 points, which ranks third nationally and is the most by a forward.

Martinelli's 23.4 points per game would rank third in program history, trailing 1969-70 Dale Kelley (24.3) and 1954-55 Frank Ehman (23.9).
Martinelli would be the first Northwestern player to average 20+ points per game in back-to-back campaigns since Jim Burns (1965-66, 1966-67).
Martinelli has scored in double-figures 62 times in his career and 20+ points 36 times, which ranks third at Northwestern since 2004, trailing only John Shurna (2008-12, 45) and Boo Buie (2019-2024, 41).
Over his last 11 games, Martinelli is averaging 26.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Martinelli has 1,473 career points, which ranks 14th in Northwestern program history.
Last season, Martinelli set program records in single-season points (676) and field goals made (251).

The Wildcats have continued to share the ball without turning it over, as their 2.12 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks second in the nation and would be the second-highest mark in Division I history. Northwestern is averaging the nation's fewest turnovers (8.4), while ranking 20th in the country with 17.8 assists per game. The Wildcats' offense is producing 76.5 points per game, its most since 1989-90 (78.2).

Northwestern's 8.4 turnovers per game are a program record, while their 17.8 assists per game are tied for the program record, set in 1993-94.
The Wildcats' +2.6 turnover margin ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 54th nationally.
Northwestern is forcing opponents to shoot 30.6% from beyond the arc, the 58th-best in the nation.
The Wildcats have upped their pace this season, averaging 12.5 fast break points per game — ranking fourth in the Big Ten.
Northwestern is averaging 3.9 blocks per game, which ranks seventh in the Big Ten. It is tied for the fourth most blocks in a single-season in program history, trailing 2016-17 (4.9), 2017-18 (4.3), and 2018-19 (4.2).
The Wildcats have played seven games decided by five points or fewer, which is tied for the most in the Big Ten. Over the past four seasons, the Wildcats have played 42 such games, which is also tied for the conference's most and ranks tied for 16th nationally.

Junior guard Jayden Reid has averaged 10.9 points and 5.3 assists per game (4th in Big Ten). His 5.3 assists per game would rank tied for third in program history, trailing only Bryant McIntosh (6.7) in 2015-16 and Pat Baldwin (5.4) in 1992-93. Junior forward Arrinten Page is averaging 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game (14th in Big Ten) while shooting 56.6% from the floor.

Singleton has 17 starts this season (2nd on team) and is averaging 7.6 points (11th among Big Ten first-years), 4.7 rebounds (6th), and 1.5 assists (T-9th) per game. His 7.6 points per game are the most by a Wildcat first-year since the 2019-20 season (Boo Buie: 10.3, Ryan Young: 9.0). His 17 starts are the most by a Northwestern first-year since Ryan Young (31) and Robbie Beran (18) in 2019-20.
Sophomore guard Max Green has started each of the last two games, averaging 9.0 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per contest on the team's Los Angeles trip.
First-year guard Jake West has started the last four games for the Wildcats. Over his last five games, he is averaging 6.4 points and 3.4 assists per game. His 2.1 assists per game on the season ranks sixth among Big Ten first-years.

Northwestern has won two of the last three matchups with the Nittany Lions (9-11, 0-9 Big Ten), including the last meeting in Evanston, a 68-63 triumph on Feb. 11, 2024. The Wildcats are aiming to win three games in a four-game span for the first time since 2012-13.

When the teams last faced off on Jan. 2, 2025, Northwestern had a chance to tie or take the lead with four seconds left, but ultimately fell 84-80 at Penn State. Brooks Barnhizer had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, with a career-high eight assists, while Martinelli added 18 points and five rebounds.

Penn State comes to Evanston on a seven-game losing skid, falling on the road to Ohio State, 84-78, last time out on Monday night. Similar to the Wildcats, Penn State takes care of the ball, averaging just 9.6 turnovers per game (4th in Big Ten, 18th nationally). The Nittany Lions average 28.8 bench points per game, the third-best figure in the conference, and are led in scoring by first-year Kayden Mingo (14.0 points per game).

Mingo also leads the team with 4.8 assists per game (7th in Big Ten) and 2.1 steals per game (1st in Big Ten).
Penn State likes to get out in transition, averaging 12.1 fastbreak points per game (5th in Big Ten).

Northwestern will play its second game in three days, when it clashes with Washington on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.