Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, February 28
Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m. CT
Northwestern
13-16,5-13Big Ten
63
vs
62
Oregon
11-18,4-14Big Ten
1
2
F
Oregon
36
26
62
Northwestern
29
34
63
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Martinelli’s Last-Second Basket Lifts NU to 63-62 Win Over Oregon
2/28/2026 4:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Eight seconds remained as senior forward Nick Martinelli received a baseline out of bounds feed. Facing a one-point deficit, Martinelli shifted right, picked up his dribble, spun through traffic and hoisted a lefty hook shot.
"We told him to take his time and get to his spot," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "He wants that shot. It's almost fitting that it was his patented flipper."
His signature look — forged through countless repetitions during his four-year career in Evanston — sat idle on the rim for a breathless moment before falling through the hoop with 1.8 seconds remaining. Martinelli's late bucket lifted Northwestern to a 63-62 victory over Oregon on Saturday afternoon in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
"It really sat on the rim for a while," Martinelli said. "Thinking back, it might have helped us. I was just trying to run back after I saw it go in, but it felt great. I'm still processing it."
The Wildcats (13-16, 5-13 Big Ten) erased a 12-point second half deficit to secure their third consecutive win in conference play. The hosts outscored the Ducks (11-18, 4-14 Big Ten) 34-26 in the second half.
Martinelli led the charge with a game-high 22 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block. He is the first player to post these figures against an NCAA Division I opponent in 2025-26 and first Northwestern player to do so since at least 2004-05.
"We're playing for our lives," Martinelli said. "That urgency is there. These games, not only are we winning them, but we're progressing as a team. We're starting to gain confidence, and this is the perfect time to do that."
He found another gear in the second half, tallying 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the latter 20 minutes.
"He's got an incredible will to win," Collins said. "He's one of those guys [who's] not going to be denied. I've never coached a player who works any harder than he does — and puts in more to being a good player than he does. You love to see that rewarded."
Junior guard Jayden Reid recorded 11 points and seven assists. Returning to the starting lineup, junior forward Arrinten Page scored nine points and added four rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
On the defensive end, the Wildcats forced Oregon into 16 turnovers and held the visitors to a 39% clip from the field.
"I really thought our physicality in the paint and our double teams in the post were as good as they've been all year long," Collins said. "That's been a staple of [ours] these past few years."
Early on, NU built a 24-18 lead — its largest of the contest — with 8:04 remaining in the first half. But Oregon responded with a late surge to enter the halftime break ahead 36-29.
Behind a 17-2 second half run, the 'Cats erased a double-digit deficit and recaptured a 48-45 lead. From there, baskets were at a premium as both teams battled to the final buzzer.
Gallery: (2-28-2026) Men's Basketball vs. Oregon
The Ducks drained a 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play, pulling ahead 62-61. Then, first-year Tre Singleton collected a crucial offensive rebound on the ensuing possession, setting the stage for Martinelli's moment of magic.
"You get to the end of the season and you start winning, then you start rolling," Martinelli said. "To get to see the smiles on these guys' faces, man, it's a good feeling. We're going to try to continue that."
The Wildcats will close their regular-season home slate on Wednesday, March 4 against No. 8 Purdue. Tipoff from Welsh-Ryan Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
"We told him to take his time and get to his spot," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "He wants that shot. It's almost fitting that it was his patented flipper."
His signature look — forged through countless repetitions during his four-year career in Evanston — sat idle on the rim for a breathless moment before falling through the hoop with 1.8 seconds remaining. Martinelli's late bucket lifted Northwestern to a 63-62 victory over Oregon on Saturday afternoon in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
NICKY BUCKETS FOR THE WIN
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) February 28, 2026
?? @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/2L7SRaXhl7
"It really sat on the rim for a while," Martinelli said. "Thinking back, it might have helped us. I was just trying to run back after I saw it go in, but it felt great. I'm still processing it."
The Wildcats (13-16, 5-13 Big Ten) erased a 12-point second half deficit to secure their third consecutive win in conference play. The hosts outscored the Ducks (11-18, 4-14 Big Ten) 34-26 in the second half.
Martinelli led the charge with a game-high 22 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block. He is the first player to post these figures against an NCAA Division I opponent in 2025-26 and first Northwestern player to do so since at least 2004-05.
"We're playing for our lives," Martinelli said. "That urgency is there. These games, not only are we winning them, but we're progressing as a team. We're starting to gain confidence, and this is the perfect time to do that."
He found another gear in the second half, tallying 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the latter 20 minutes.
"He's got an incredible will to win," Collins said. "He's one of those guys [who's] not going to be denied. I've never coached a player who works any harder than he does — and puts in more to being a good player than he does. You love to see that rewarded."
Hear from the Hero ???????
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) February 28, 2026
?? @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/CjmeHfq5re
Junior guard Jayden Reid recorded 11 points and seven assists. Returning to the starting lineup, junior forward Arrinten Page scored nine points and added four rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
On the defensive end, the Wildcats forced Oregon into 16 turnovers and held the visitors to a 39% clip from the field.
"I really thought our physicality in the paint and our double teams in the post were as good as they've been all year long," Collins said. "That's been a staple of [ours] these past few years."
Early on, NU built a 24-18 lead — its largest of the contest — with 8:04 remaining in the first half. But Oregon responded with a late surge to enter the halftime break ahead 36-29.
Behind a 17-2 second half run, the 'Cats erased a double-digit deficit and recaptured a 48-45 lead. From there, baskets were at a premium as both teams battled to the final buzzer.
The Ducks drained a 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play, pulling ahead 62-61. Then, first-year Tre Singleton collected a crucial offensive rebound on the ensuing possession, setting the stage for Martinelli's moment of magic.
"You get to the end of the season and you start winning, then you start rolling," Martinelli said. "To get to see the smiles on these guys' faces, man, it's a good feeling. We're going to try to continue that."
The Wildcats will close their regular-season home slate on Wednesday, March 4 against No. 8 Purdue. Tipoff from Welsh-Ryan Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
Oregon
NU
FG%
.390
.446
3FG%
.368
.250
FT%
.750
.750
RB
37
32
TO
16
12
STL
5
11
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball - Martinelli's Game-Winner Lifts 'Cats over Ducks (2/28/26)
Saturday, February 28
Men's Basketball - Oregon Postgame Press Conference (2/28/2026)
Saturday, February 28
Men's Basketball - Collins, Martinelli, West Preview Oregon (2/27/26)
Friday, February 27
Men's Basketball - Nick Martinelli Joins B1G Today (2/27/26)
Friday, February 27
