COLUMBUS, Ohio — Northwestern secured a decisive 70-49 victory over Ohio State on Thursday night, with Nick Martinelli leading the charge with 18 points. The win marked a much-needed end to Northwestern’s three-game slump, improving their record to 14-13 overall and 5-11 in the Big Ten Conference.

The Wildcats showcased a strong team performance, as Ty Berry and K.J. Windham each contributed 15 points, while Matthew Nicholson added 10. In contrast, Ohio State’s efforts were led by Micah Parrish with 16 points and Bruce Thornton with 13. The Buckeyes, who now stand at 15-12 overall and 7-9 in the conference, struggled offensively, with double-digit scorers Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. managing only four points apiece. Notably, this marked the first game of the season that Mobley failed to hit a three-pointer, and Ohio State’s 49 points represented their season low.

Northwestern built on their seven-point halftime lead by scoring the first 12 points of the second half, with Berry and Windham contributing five points each during the stretch. The Buckeyes missed their initial six shots of the half, allowing Northwestern’s advantage to swell to as much as 28 points midway through. The Wildcats maintained a lead of at least 20 points until the waning moments of the game.

Ohio State briefly held the lead in the early minutes, but Northwestern quickly reasserted control, heading into halftime with a 31-24 advantage. The Wildcats capitalized on defensive turnovers, converting 16 Buckeye mistakes into 18 points, and they dominated from the bench, outscoring Ohio State’s reserves 25-8.

After facing significant challenges this season, including the loss of key players Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach to injuries, Northwestern had entered this matchup with only one victory in their last seven games, and they were still looking for their first win in true road contests. Despite these challenges, their victory over Ohio State marked the third consecutive win against the Buckeyes, a feat they hadn’t achieved since the 1966-67 season. This was also the first time since 1932-34 that Northwestern managed to collect two consecutive road wins against Ohio State.

Ohio State is set to play against UCLA on Sunday, while Northwestern will continue their campaign with a matchup at Minnesota on Tuesday.