Nick Martinelli Drops 34 as Northwestern Rolls Past Penn State in Evanston
On a chilly Thursday night in Evanston, things heated up quickly inside Welsh-Ryan Arena - and Nick Martinelli was the one turning up the temperature. The Big Ten’s leading scorer put on a clinic, dropping a career-high 34 points to power Northwestern past Penn State, 94-73, in a game that showcased the Wildcats’ offensive rhythm and second-half dominance.
Early Fireworks, But Northwestern Finds Its Groove
The game opened with both teams trading threes at a blistering pace. Four triples fell before the first media timeout, including two from Penn State’s Eli Rice, who came out firing for the Nittany Lions. At the 17:21 mark, the score was knotted at 6-6, and it looked like fans were in for a shootout.
Northwestern, however, quickly found its rhythm from beyond the arc. By the time the first media timeout rolled around (15:48), the Wildcats had built an 11-6 lead, with nine of those points coming from deep.
Penn State briefly grabbed the lead after freshman seven-footer Justin Houser threw down a dunk to make it 15-14. But Martinelli responded immediately, drilling a three on the next possession to swing the momentum right back to Northwestern - a theme that would repeat itself throughout the night.
Dilione Heats Up, But Wildcats Keep Answering
Freddie Dilione V. gave Penn State a spark midway through the first half, scoring seven straight points and putting the Nittany Lions up 22-21 with just over 10 minutes to go. But every time Penn State made a push, Northwestern had an answer. Whether it was Martinelli finding space or Tre Singleton finishing in transition, the Wildcats kept the upper hand.
With 7:43 remaining in the half, Northwestern held a narrow 28-26 lead. Martinelli had already reached double figures, and Singleton chipped in with seven points of his own.
The pace picked up, and Northwestern began to assert itself in transition. Their lead stretched to 37-30 with just over five minutes left in the half, as they turned defense into offense and got out on the break.
Penn State wouldn’t go quietly, though. Buckets from Dominic Stewart, Melih Tunca, and a tough and-one finish by Ivan Juric helped the Nittany Lions claw back within one, 41-40, with under two minutes to go in the half.
At the break, Northwestern led 45-40. Martinelli had already tallied 15 points, while Juric led Penn State with nine.
Second Half Surge Leaves Penn State Behind
Coming out of halftime, Northwestern wasted no time in creating separation. An 11-2 run to open the second half gave the Wildcats a 58-44 cushion with 15:22 left to play. The offense was humming, and Martinelli continued to lead the charge.
Penn State showed some fight. Kayden Mingo slashed to the rim for a strong finish, capping a 10-2 run that cut the deficit to 60-53 with 12:26 remaining. Mingo had 11 points in the second half alone, and his burst of energy forced Northwestern to regroup with a timeout.
But the Wildcats didn’t stay rattled for long. Martinelli, once again, responded.
By the 7:44 mark, Northwestern was back up by double digits, 72-61, with Martinelli already at 29 points on the night. His ability to score in bunches and control the tempo was the difference-maker.
From there, Northwestern slammed the door shut. With five minutes to go, they had stretched the lead to 81-63 and were firmly in control. Martinelli continued to pour it on, finishing with 34 points - a statement performance from the Big Ten’s top scorer.
What It Means
For Northwestern, this was a much-needed win - their tenth of the season and just their second in conference play (10-11 overall, 2-8 Big Ten). It wasn’t just the final score that impressed, but the way they responded to each Penn State run with poise and execution.
Penn State, meanwhile, continues to search for answers in conference play. The loss drops the Nittany Lions to 9-12 overall and 0-10 in the Big Ten. Despite flashes from players like Mingo, Dilione, and Juric, they couldn’t sustain enough momentum to keep pace with a Northwestern squad firing on all cylinders.
Martinelli’s 34-point outburst was the headliner, but this was a team win for the Wildcats - one that showed what they’re capable of when their offense is clicking and their leader is in takeover mode.