Martinelli, Clayton Combine for 49 Points in 78-74 Win Over Maryland

Wednesday, February 18

Evanston, Ill.

7 p.m. CT

Northwestern

11-16,3-13Big Ten

Maryland

10-16,3-12Big Ten

Maryland

Northwestern

Martinelli, Clayton Combine for 49 Points in 78-74 Win Over Maryland

2/18/2026 10:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By: Jake Epstein, NUSports.com

EVANSTON, Ill. — Behind 49 combined points from senior forward Nick Martinelli and junior guard Jordan Clayton, Northwestern picked up a 78-74 victory over Maryland on Wednesday night in Welsh-Ryan Arena.

"The story of this game was our guys' will to win," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "I was just really proud of the guys. The last 12 minutes weren't super pretty, and they make you play that way. I thought our guys really did a great job. And certainly the star of the night was Clayton."

Took care of business ?? pic.twitter.com/864k7WJ7Yz
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) February 19, 2026

The Wildcats (11-16, 3-13 Big Ten) launched a 22-4 second-half run to pull away from the Terrapins (10-16, 3-12 Big Ten). Northwestern led for the final 11:59.

Martinelli recorded a team-high 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Martinelli soared to No. 8 in the program's career points leaderboard in the win. He joined John Shurna as one of two forwards in school history to surpass 1,600 points.

"For a great scorer, a lot of times all it takes is really one," Collins said of Martinelli. "I knew he was going to bounce back today. That's who Nick is, such a warrior. He's going to fight tooth and nail until the finish. It was good to see him come back with a big scoring night tonight."

Clayton scored a career-high 20 points, 14 of which came in the second half. He knocked down 6-of-7 shots from 3-point range and racked up three steals.

He is the third Wildcat since 2004-05 to record at least 20 points and six made 3-pointers off the bench in Big Ten play, joining Aaron Falzon (Jan. 22, 2019, against Indiana) and Ty Berry (Jan. 22, 2025, against Indiana).

Gallery: (2-18-2026) Men's Basketball vs. Maryland

"The sky's the limit for him," Martinelli said of Clayton. "Today is just a testament to him. He's a program guy, a guy that puts his head down every day and goes to work. You could tell by the way everyone was reacting to every time he made a shot, how much impact he's had on other people's lives."

Joining Martinelli and Clayton in double figures, sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino chipped in 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. He added two blocks on the defensive end.

First-year guard Jake West ran the floor with seven points and a game-high seven assists. He tied his career-high with three steals. He helped the hosts dish out 20 combined assists to eight turnovers.

The Wildcats' 38 bench points marked their most in a game since Feb. 28, 2022, against Iowa.

Northwestern equaled its season-high with 12 makes from beyond the arc. The 'Cats canned seven second-half threes.

On the defensive end, the Wildcats forced Maryland into 15 turnovers. NU recorded 12 steals in the contest, with junior guard Jayden Reid leading the way with four.

"Tonight, I thought we were really active," Collins said. "We got in the lanes. Our aggressiveness, our activity, guys were getting steals, getting in passing lanes and then we were able to get out in the open floor a little bit."

The Wildcats will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in a road matchup with Indiana. Tipoff from Assembly Hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.