EVANSTON, Ill. — In a thrilling matchup on Tuesday night, Nick Martinelli delivered a standout performance, contributing 27 points and pulling down 13 rebounds, which ultimately paved the way for Northwestern to secure a narrow victory against USC with a final score of 77-75.
In the closing moments of the game, Martinelli showcased his skills, maneuvering past a double team near the baseline to score a critical basket with just 2.6 seconds remaining, giving Northwestern (13-10, 4-8 Big Ten) a slight advantage as the clock wound down. Following a timeout, USC’s Clark Slajchert attempted to orchestrate a final play. However, his efforts were thwarted when a Wildcats defender managed to deflect the ball out of bounds, sealing the game as time expired.
Earlier in the game, Slajchert had tied the score at 75 with a remarkable four-point play, nailing a straight-away three-pointer and subsequently sinking a free throw with only 29 seconds left on the clock. During a previous critical moment with just under two minutes remaining, Slajchert had also drawn a foul on Blake Smith while attempting another three-pointer, converting one out of three free throws to help keep USC (13-9, 5-6) in the match.
Northwestern initially held a slim 33-31 lead before significantly extending their advantage to 15 points, leading 59-44 within the first ten minutes of the second half. Although USC showed resilience and fought to close the gap, they could not manage to take the lead at any point in the game.
Martinelli’s impressive display included a personal best of 10 offensive rebounds, complementing the efforts of Justin Mullins, who contributed 14 points off the bench. For USC, Slajchert was the standout performer, tallying 24 points while shooting an impressive 9 for 11 from the field. Additionally, Wesley Yates III and Chibuzo Agbo provided valuable support, scoring 15 and 14 points respectively.
Looking ahead, USC is set to face off against No. 7 Purdue on Friday, while Northwestern will travel to take on Washington on Saturday.
