COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nick Martinelli delivered a standout performance, scoring 18 points as Northwestern surged in the second half to secure a 70-49 victory over Ohio State on Thursday evening.
Joining him, Ty Berry and K.J. Windham each contributed 15 points, while Matthew Nicholson added 10 points for the Wildcats (14-13, 5-11 Big Ten). This win marked a significant turnaround as it halted a three-game losing streak for Northwestern.
On the other side, Micah Parrish led the Buckeyes (15-12, 7-9) with 16 points, followed by Bruce Thornton, who tallied 13 points. However, Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. struggled, each managing only four points. Notably, Mobley could not make a three-pointer, marking the first time this season he has failed to hit one. The Buckeyes’ 49 points marked their lowest scoring output of the season.
Northwestern, holding a seven-point advantage at halftime, came out strong in the second half, launching a 12-0 run with Berry and Windham contributing five points each during that stretch. Meanwhile, Ohio State struggled to find the basket, missing their first six shots. As the Wildcats extended their lead to 28 points midway through the half, the margin remained above 20 until the game’s final minute.
The Buckeyes briefly held the lead in the opening minutes before Northwestern asserted control, going into halftime with a 31-24 lead.
The Wildcats capitalized on Ohio State’s shortcomings, scoring 18 points off 16 turnovers committed by the Buckeyes, and their bench outperformed Ohio State’s, scoring 25 points compared to just 8.
Despite facing challenges this season, including significant injuries to key players Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach, Northwestern entered this match having won just one of their previous seven games and struggling on the road with an 0-8 record in true away contests. Nevertheless, with this victory over Ohio State, the Wildcats have now beaten the Buckeyes three straight times, a feat not achieved since the 1966-67 season. This win also marked the first time Northwestern has secured back-to-back road victories against Ohio State since the 1932-34 period.
Next up, Ohio State is set to face UCLA on Sunday, while Northwestern will travel to Minnesota for their upcoming game on Tuesday.
