Back on court with eight fresh faces in the building, Northwestern fell in its opening exhibition game 80-72 to No. 16 Iowa State.
Senior forward Nick Martinelli led the way for the Wildcats with 20 points, while three new additions — freshman forward Tre Singleton, transfer junior center Arrinten Page and transfer sophomore guard Max Green — each chipped in with double-digit scoring.
The ’Cats got off to a strong start with Page at the center of their offense early, getting to the free throw line twice and splashing a three-pointer in the first three minutes.
After sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino nailed a corner three, NU took a 12-6 lead to the first media timeout.
The game quickly turned on its head, with a 12-0 Cyclone run putting Iowa State ahead 24-16 halfway through the first period.
The ’Cats regained their composure as Martinelli grew into the game, leveling the contest with the seconds ticking down toward halftime. Green had other ideas, however, hitting a running three-pointer from way downtown at the first-half buzzer to give NU a 40-37 lead.
Coming out of the break, the Cyclones began to heat up from distance, making four of their first six second-half threes as they jumped out to a 62-54 lead under the 10-minute mark.
Back-to-back threes from Martinelli and Ciaravino cut the Iowa State lead to four with under six minutes remaining, but the Cyclones once again extended their advantage to double digits.
One final NU push brought the deficit to four with under three minutes remaining courtesy of a Ciaravino layup, but the ’Cats couldn’t find the requisite defensive stops to mount a serious comeback.
Transfer junior guard Jayden Reid and freshman guard Jake West both missed out with injury after coach Chris Collins suggested the pair would share the majority of point guard minutes at Big Ten Media Day.
The contest was NU’s first exhibition against a Division I opponent in Collins’ tenure and its first visit to Iowa State since 1949.
Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s exhibition:
1. Singleton appears primed for instant impact
Collins made a major statement when he revealed his starting lineup, rolling out Singleton as part of his starting five. The freshman looked ready for the big stage Sunday, showcasing maturity beyond his years at both ends of the floor.
The 6’8, Jeffersonville, Ind. native finished with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists on the day.
Singleton got on the scoresheet within the opening four minutes when he drove along the baseline from the right wing and slammed home a dunk.
Coming out of the first media timeout, only Singleton and Martinelli remained on the floor as Collins made three substitutions.
After the freshman picked up two early fouls, he stamped his authority on the game later in the first half.
With just over six minutes remaining, Singleton grabbed an offensive rebound before dribbling out to the top of the key and knocking down a step-back, mid-range jumper. He added to his tally in the half’s final minute, cutting to the basket for an easy layup after receiving a pass from junior guard Jordan Clayton.
Singleton was a team-high +8 in his 13 first-half minutes. He continued to impose himself in the second half, getting to the line three times and shooting a perfect six-for-six on free throws.
If Singleton keeps his place when NU’s season kicks off in earnest on Nov. 3 against Mercyhurst, he will replicate a feat achieved by sophomore guard K.J. Windham when he started his opening collegiate game as a freshman last season.
Yet, unlike Windham, who deputized for the injured Brooks Barnhizer at the time, Singleton’s start comes with no caveat. Don’t be surprised if the freshman emerges as a key player for Collins’ squad sooner rather than later.
2. Page gives NU frontcourt a new look
For the last three seasons, Matthew Nicholson spearheaded NU’s frontcourt — standing out as an elite rim-protector and lob threat but providing limited versatility outside of the paint.
Page’s addition brings an entirely new dimension to the ’Cats’ offense. The 6’11 big man demonstrated his multi-faceted game early on, putting the ball on the floor and drawing multiple fouls as he charged toward the rim.
Page even showed off his shooting range, connecting on a three-pointer within three minutes. It’s a sight NU fans have seldom seen in recent years, with its center unit making just two threes throughout the entirety of last season.
The transfer, who spent his first two seasons at USC and Cincinnati, failed to fully convert on his trips to the charity stripe, knocking down five of eight free throw attempts. He also found himself in early foul trouble and ultimately played just 22 minutes.
Page went down holding his leg late in the second half and sat out the rest of the game, but appeared to shake off the blow and head to the bench on his own volition.
Nevertheless, if Page can continue to space the floor and use his athleticism to wreak havoc around the basket, his play could unlock new capabilities for Collins’ offense.
3. Get ready for small ball
With Page and freshman Cade Bennerman the only two recognized centers on the roster, Collins alluded at Big Ten Media Day to the probability that he would use NU’s forward size as a solution to the team’s lack of center depth.
That plan was confirmed Sunday, as Bennerman did not see the floor at all. Instead, it was freshman forward Tyler Kropp who claimed the majority of the small-ball center minutes, with Martinelli and Singleton also imposing their presence in the paint.
When Page first got a rest after the opening media timeout, Kropp entered the game and deputized at center. Kropp impressed in his first collegiate minutes, scoring four consecutive points with physical finishes in the post.
After Page picked up his third foul early in the second half, Collins rolled out a lineup featuring Clayton, Ciaravino, Martinelli, Singleton and Kropp — while none of the five is a center by trade, only Clayton is listed below 6’6.
Kropp continued to hold his own at the five, notching a block that led to a fast-break Martinelli layup to put NU up 46-42.
As Iowa State’s shooting improved in the second half, the ’Cats’ smaller lineups ultimately faltered. NU finished a collective -7 with Page off the floor, demonstrating room for improvement for its center-less rotations.
NU plays its second and final exhibition Wednesday against Illinois State. The game will begin at 7 p.m.
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