It took eight conference games and nearly two months, but Northwestern has finally won a Big Ten game.
After dropping both games during their two-game homestand, the Wildcats (9-10, 1-7 Big Ten) headed on the road and took down USC 74-68 at the Galen Center on Wednesday night.
“We were tough enough,” coach Chris Collins told Big Ten Network’s Don MacLean postgame. “You’re playing great teams every night, and we needed this one badly.”
The Trojans (14-5, 3-5 Big Ten) fell at home for the second straight game, their third loss of the season on their home court.
Senior forward Nick Martinelli scored a team-high 22 points, his tenth straight game with at least 20 points. He entered the contest averaging 23.7 points per game, the second-best in all of Division I basketball.
Freshman forward Tyler Kropp notched career highs in both points and rebounds, tallying 11 and nine, respectively.
Collins put in a new starting five for the fourth consecutive game, replacing junior center Arrinten Page and sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino with sophomore guard Max Green and Kropp. They joined now-regulars freshman guard Jake West, freshman forward Tre Singleton and Martinelli.
“We started three true freshmen in a world of guys that are 25, 26,” Collins said. “I’m so proud of those guys.”
The ’Cats’ underclassmen took advantage of their time on the court, and through five minutes of play, Singleton and Green had produced all of NU’s nine points. Including a hookshot from Martinelli after the under-16 TV timeout, the ’Cats scored eight consecutive points in the paint.
Throughout the first half, the newcomers continued getting in on the action. After falling in a 20-13 deficit, Kropp sank multiple layups, including one after grabbing an offensive rebound. West followed up the second make with a layup on his own, cutting NU’s deficit to just one.
Despite playing all of the first 12 minutes, Martinelli scored just two points. During the span, he shot 1-for-5, with multiple rare misses around the hoop for a player who had previously been 56.3% from the field.
The ’Cats continued to play in and around the paint, going back and forth with the Trojans before both squads hit a run on offense. After three minutes with no points, West broke the drought with a 3-pointer to give NU a 28-25 lead. He has made a 3-pointer in four straight games.
After USC tied the game, Martinelli was able to close out the first half with his second basket of the night, a 3-pointer to give the ’Cats a 31-28 lead. Per the Big Ten Network broadcast, this is the second time this season the Trojans have been held under 30 points in the first half.
USC, which had 72.3% from the charity stripe on the year, could only muster six makes on 17 first-half free-throw attempts.
NU was able to grab the lead at the end of the first 20 minutes by limiting mistakes and taking high-percentage shots. The ’Cats committed just one turnover and scored 18 points in the paint.
“I thought we did a good job taking care of the ball,” Collins said. “I thought we played with force and physicality.”
In the second half, NU continued to put pressure on the Trojans’ interior defense. The ’Cats also spread the ball between those on the floor, with four different players responsible for their first four makes of the half.
After less than six minutes of play, Kropp took a knock as he made head-on contact with an opposing player while diving for a loose ball. Though he returned with just over seven minutes remaining, and his plus-12 in 28 minutes was a team high.
NU held the lead for the entire second half — at one point taking an eight-point lead — but USC kept the game within reach. Unlike the first half, the Trojans took advantage of their trips to the line, shooting 13-for-15 in the second period.
The squads went back and forth down the stretch, mostly relying on free throws for their points. After USC made two more free throws to cut its deficit to three points, Martinelli turned over possession on an errant pass, and the Trojans cut their opponent’s lead to one on the following possession, with under five minutes to play.
Collins said him and his team recognized the similarities between Wednesday’s game and some of NU’s recent conference losses. He said the team needed to confront its failings in order to break the losing streak.
“Not tonight,” Collins said. “We’re gonna be strong tonight, we’re gonna make the plays, we’re gonna be tough and we’re gonna find a way to win.”
The ’Cats bounced back immediately with a 5-0 scoring run, but USC cut the lead back to two. Martinelli continued his second-half takeover, draining a jumper off a three-quarter court pass with 1.6 seconds remaining on the shot clock.
NU led by four in the final 30 seconds, and after a Trojan miss, West iced the game with two free throws. After a few more foul shots from both sides, the final buzzer sounded and the ’Cats claimed a conference victory for the first time this season.
NU looks to start a win streak as it continues its West Coast road trip. The ’Cats take on UCLA on Saturday.
“This was a confidence booster in general,” Collins said. “Obviously going to UCLA is not going to be easy, they’re a terrific team.”
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