Martinelli Powers Late Surge as Northwestern Tops USC, Ends Lengthy Conference Skid

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

Nick Martinelli delivered a decisive second-half performance Wednesday night, scoring 17 of his 22 points after halftime to lift Northwestern to a 74–68 victory over USC and halt a five-game losing streak.

The win marked a long-awaited breakthrough for the Wildcats, who had been mired in a prolonged drought in conference play. Northwestern entered the night having lost nine consecutive Big Ten games dating back to last season and was off to its worst league start in more than 15 years. The victory improved the Wildcats to 9–10 overall and 1–7 in conference action, easing pressure on a team that had struggled to close games in recent weeks.

Martinelli, who has emerged as Northwestern’s offensive anchor, again set the tone when it mattered most. His scoring streak continued as he reached the 20-point mark for the 10th straight game, the longest active run in the nation. He complemented his scoring with timely defense and poise in the closing minutes, helping Northwestern maintain control after seizing momentum late in the second half.

Freshman Tyler Kropp, making his first career start, provided a strong supporting performance. He finished with 11 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds, giving the Wildcats valuable presence in the paint. Jake West also contributed 11 points and five assists, while Northwestern’s balanced effort proved crucial in snapping the skid.

USC, now 14–4 overall and 3–5 in conference play, received a highly anticipated debut from five-star freshman Alijah Arenas, a McDonald’s All-American and the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas. Arenas finished with eight points but struggled to find a rhythm, shooting 3 of 15 from the field and missing all six of his attempts from beyond the arc. He scored his first collegiate basket on a pull-up jumper along the right baseline just over three minutes into the game, then added a highlight-reel 360-degree layup shortly thereafter, drawing a reaction from the crowd despite the shooting difficulties.

Jordan Marsh led USC with 19 points, all of which came in the second half, while Ezra Ausar added 17 points, including 13 after the break. Jacob Cofie was a force on the glass, collecting 12 rebounds to go with nine points. Chad Baker-Mazara, USC’s leading scorer entering the game at nearly 19 points per contest, was limited by foul trouble and finished with 14 points in just 13 minutes of action.

The game turned decisively in Northwestern’s favor during a late sequence that underscored Martinelli’s impact. With just 1.6 seconds on the shot clock and 2:14 remaining, Max Green fired a long inbounds pass from three-quarters court to Martinelli, who caught, pivoted, and calmly buried a baseline jumper to make it 67–63. Moments later, Martinelli came up with a steal, raced coast to coast, and dished to Kropp for a layup, pushing the margin to two possessions and effectively sealing the outcome.

USC attempted to rally but could not overcome Northwestern’s late execution and defensive pressure. The Wildcats closed out the final minutes with composure, a welcome sight after weeks of close losses and frustration.

Northwestern will look to build on the momentum when it travels to UCLA on Saturday, while USC heads to Wisconsin on Sunday seeking to rebound and regain footing in the conference race.