Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, March 11
Chicago, Ill.
5:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
15-18,5-15Big Ten
74
vs
61
Indiana
18-14,9-11Big Ten
1
2
F
Northwestern
36
38
74
Indiana
37
24
61
Second Half Surge Propels NU to 74-61 Win Over Indiana
3/11/2026 8:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHICAGO — Senior forward Nick Martinelli and first-year guard Jake West combined for 46 points as Northwestern took down 10-seed Indiana 74-61 in the Big Ten Tournament's second round on Wednesday night in the United Center.
"That was a big win for us," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We've always felt that we were better than what our record indicated. If you look at how we've competed in the league, we just haven't been able to get over the hump…There's no quit in this group. They kept coming to practice every day. We kept preparing."
While the 15-seed Wildcats (15-18, 5-15 Big Ten) trailed at the half, they outscored the Hoosiers (18-14, 9-11 Big Ten) 38-24 in the second half to complete an emphatic upset victory.
Martinelli recorded a game-high 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. With 52 points through two games, the senior set the program record for points in a Big Ten Tournament, surpassing Juice Thompson's (2010-11) and his own previous mark of 50.
"We know what Nick brings – he's an absolute warrior animal," Collins said. "He's going to bring it every single day."
West matched his career high with 18 points, adding three rebounds and four assists. He is the first Wildcat first-year to record 18 points in a Big Ten Tournament game since TJ Parker did so on March 13, 2003.
Junior guard Jayden Reid scored seven points, grabbed a season-high five rebounds and dished out a team-high six assists. Reid's 15 assists through two Big Ten Tournament games set a new program record in conference tournament play as he helped NU post a 15:6 assist to turnover ratio.
Gallery: (3-11-2026) MBB - Big Ten Tournament Second Round
First-year forward Tre Singleton chipped in eight points, five rebounds and two steals.
The 'Cats forced the Hoosiers into 11 turnovers. Indiana shot just 35.3% from beyond the arc.
Just like the prior night's contest, Wednesday began as a back-and-forth battle. Indiana built an early 10-point edge, but behind a 12-2 run, Northwestern scrapped back to a 33-32 lead with 2:49 remaining.
At the half, the Hoosiers led 37-36.
West fueled the Wildcats' first-half offense with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including a 2-of-3 clip on 3-pointers. Martinelli provided nine points and three assists in the opening 20 minutes of action.
"I thought we were playing very well offensively and so were they," Collins said. "We just talked about whatever team was going to buckle down and find a way to get stops in the second half would gain control of the game.
NU jumped back ahead off a Martinelli basket on the second half's initial possession. From there, the 'Cats never relinquished the lead. A 15-3 run midway through the frame helped the Wildcats extend the margin into double figures. Northwestern led by as many as 18 points in the win.
The Hoosiers managed just five makes from the field in the second half. Their 24 second-half points marked the fewest the 'Cats have relented in a half against a Big Ten opponent in 2025-26.
"There's a lot of young guys out there competing, and I'm just really proud of this group," Collins said. "[We're] excited about the opportunity to keep playing. That was our whole goal. We just want to keep playing, and I thought our defense really stood the test in the second half against a team that's difficult to defend."
Northwestern will face 5-seed Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament's third round on Thursday night. Tipoff from the United Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
"That was a big win for us," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We've always felt that we were better than what our record indicated. If you look at how we've competed in the league, we just haven't been able to get over the hump…There's no quit in this group. They kept coming to practice every day. We kept preparing."
WE MOVE ???? pic.twitter.com/OmzWV5GwPH
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 12, 2026
While the 15-seed Wildcats (15-18, 5-15 Big Ten) trailed at the half, they outscored the Hoosiers (18-14, 9-11 Big Ten) 38-24 in the second half to complete an emphatic upset victory.
Martinelli recorded a game-high 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. With 52 points through two games, the senior set the program record for points in a Big Ten Tournament, surpassing Juice Thompson's (2010-11) and his own previous mark of 50.
"We know what Nick brings – he's an absolute warrior animal," Collins said. "He's going to bring it every single day."
West matched his career high with 18 points, adding three rebounds and four assists. He is the first Wildcat first-year to record 18 points in a Big Ten Tournament game since TJ Parker did so on March 13, 2003.
Junior guard Jayden Reid scored seven points, grabbed a season-high five rebounds and dished out a team-high six assists. Reid's 15 assists through two Big Ten Tournament games set a new program record in conference tournament play as he helped NU post a 15:6 assist to turnover ratio.
First-year forward Tre Singleton chipped in eight points, five rebounds and two steals.
The 'Cats forced the Hoosiers into 11 turnovers. Indiana shot just 35.3% from beyond the arc.
Just like the prior night's contest, Wednesday began as a back-and-forth battle. Indiana built an early 10-point edge, but behind a 12-2 run, Northwestern scrapped back to a 33-32 lead with 2:49 remaining.
At the half, the Hoosiers led 37-36.
West fueled the Wildcats' first-half offense with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including a 2-of-3 clip on 3-pointers. Martinelli provided nine points and three assists in the opening 20 minutes of action.
"I thought we were playing very well offensively and so were they," Collins said. "We just talked about whatever team was going to buckle down and find a way to get stops in the second half would gain control of the game.
NU jumped back ahead off a Martinelli basket on the second half's initial possession. From there, the 'Cats never relinquished the lead. A 15-3 run midway through the frame helped the Wildcats extend the margin into double figures. Northwestern led by as many as 18 points in the win.
Jake West. A star in the making ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 12, 2026
?? 18 pts
?? 4 asts
?? 3 rebs
?? 1 stl pic.twitter.com/9cx05j06j3
The Hoosiers managed just five makes from the field in the second half. Their 24 second-half points marked the fewest the 'Cats have relented in a half against a Big Ten opponent in 2025-26.
"There's a lot of young guys out there competing, and I'm just really proud of this group," Collins said. "[We're] excited about the opportunity to keep playing. That was our whole goal. We just want to keep playing, and I thought our defense really stood the test in the second half against a team that's difficult to defend."
Northwestern will face 5-seed Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament's third round on Thursday night. Tipoff from the United Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
NU
IND
FG%
.481
.444
3FG%
.429
.353
FT%
.762
.682
RB
27
29
TO
6
11
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
10
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball - 'Cats Advance in Big Ten Tournament with 74-61 Win Over Indiana (3/11/26)
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