Northwestern uses Martinelli's last second heroics to stave off USC 77-75
AP
Feb 04, 2025
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Nick Martinelli scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and his basket with 2.6 seconds left helped Northwestern Wildcats hold off USC Trojans 77-75 on Tuesday night.
Martinelli split a double team near the baseline and softly laid it in to give Northwestern (13-10, 4-8 Big Ten) the lead in the closing seconds. Out of a timeout, USC put the ball in the hands of Clark Slajchert who took a few dribbles before a Wildcats defender knocked it out of bounds and time expired.
Slajchert converted a four-point play on a straight-away 3-pointer and a free throw with 29 seconds left to tie it at 75-all. With 1:54 left and USC trailing 72-67, Slajchert also drew a foul on Blake Smith from beyond the arc and made 1 of 3 from the line.
Northwestern led 33-31 and stretched the margin to 15 points, 59-44, over the first 10 minutes of the second half before USC fought its way back but never took the lead.
Martinelli recorded a career-high 10 offensive rebounds and reserve Justin Mullins scored 14 points for Northwestern.
Slajchert scored 24 points, shooting 9 for 11, Wesley Yates III scored 15 points and Chibuzo Agbo 14 for USC (13-9, 5-6).
USC plays at No. 7 Purdue on Friday. Northwestern plays at Washington on Saturday.
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1st Half
USC
Trojans
31
NW
Wildcats
33
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Rashaun Agee vs. Matthew Nicholson (Trojans gains possession)
19:36
+3
Rashaun Agee makes three point jump shot (Saint Thomas assists)
3-0
19:11
Angelo Ciaravino offensive foul
19:11
Angelo Ciaravino turnover (offensive foul)
18:56
+2
Clark Slajchert makes two point jump shot
5-0
18:33
Wesley Yates III personal foul
18:22
Angelo Ciaravino turnover (traveling)
18:04
Clark Slajchert misses two point jump shot
18:02
Matthew Nicholson defensive rebound
17:53
+3
Justin Mullins makes three point jump shot (Jalen Leach assists)
5-3
17:29
Matthew Nicholson shooting foul (Rashaun Agee draws the foul)
17:29
+1
Rashaun Agee makes regular free throw 1 of 2
6-3
17:29
Rashaun Agee misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:29
Ty Berry defensive rebound
17:18
Rashaun Agee blocks Jalen Leach's two point layup
17:16
Jalen Leach offensive rebound
17:09
+3
Ty Berry makes three point jump shot (Jalen Leach assists)
6-6
16:55
Rashaun Agee misses two point layup
16:53
Ty Berry defensive rebound
16:44
Ty Berry misses two point layup
16:42
Matthew Nicholson offensive rebound
16:36
+2
Matthew Nicholson makes two point layup
6-8
16:18
Saint Thomas misses two point jump shot
16:16
Justin Mullins defensive rebound
16:06
Jalen Leach misses three point jump shot
16:04
Matt Knowling defensive rebound
15:49
Rashaun Agee misses two point layup
15:47
Matt Knowling offensive rebound
15:40
+2
Matt Knowling makes two point layup
8-8
15:34
Ty Berry misses two point layup
15:32
Ty Berry offensive rebound
15:31
+2
Ty Berry makes two point layup
8-10
15:31
Rashaun Agee shooting foul (Ty Berry draws the foul)
15:31
TV timeout
15:31
+1
Ty Berry makes regular free throw 1 of 1
8-11
15:05
+2
Matt Knowling makes two point layup
10-11
14:56
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point hook shot (Ty Berry assists)
10-13
14:27
Jalen Leach personal foul
14:17
Keenan Fitzmorris shooting foul (Wesley Yates III draws the foul)
14:17
+1
Wesley Yates III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-13
14:17
+1
Wesley Yates III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-13
14:14
Ty Berry misses three point jump shot
14:12
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
13:59
+2
Keenan Fitzmorris makes two point jump shot
12-15
13:34
Chibuzo Agbo misses two point layup
13:32
Ty Berry defensive rebound
13:15
Ty Berry turnover (Wesley Yates III steals)
13:09
+2
Chibuzo Agbo makes two point layup (Wesley Yates III assists)
14-15
12:47
+3
Ty Berry makes three point jump shot (Jalen Leach assists)
14-18
12:20
Saint Thomas turnover
12:05
K.J. Windham misses three point jump shot
12:03
Wildcats offensive rebound
12:00
TV timeout
11:47
Justin Mullins misses three point jump shot
11:45
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
11:38
Ty Berry misses three point jump shot
11:36
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
11:35
Nick Martinelli misses two point layup
11:33
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
11:33
Keenan Fitzmorris misses two point layup
11:33
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
11:33
Nick Martinelli misses two point layup
11:31
Keenan Fitzmorris offensive rebound
11:31
Nick Martinelli misses two point layup
11:29
Justin Mullins offensive rebound
11:29
Ty Berry misses three point jump shot
11:27
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
11:25
Clark Slajchert shooting foul (Nick Martinelli draws the foul)
11:25
+1
Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 1 of 2
14-19
11:25
+1
Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 2 of 2
14-20
11:20
Wesley Yates III turnover
10:55
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point layup
14-22
10:55
Rashaun Agee shooting foul (Nick Martinelli draws the foul)
10:55
+1
Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 1 of 1
14-23
10:40
Wesley Yates III turnover (traveling)
10:32
Jalen Leach misses two point layup
10:30
Saint Thomas defensive rebound
10:17
+2
Clark Slajchert makes two point jump shot (Matt Knowling assists)
16-23
9:58
K.J. Windham misses three point jump shot
9:56
Kevin Patton Jr. defensive rebound
9:49
Saint Thomas misses three point jump shot
9:47
Justin Mullins defensive rebound
9:32
Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
9:30
Saint Thomas defensive rebound
9:23
Matt Knowling misses two point layup
9:21
Matthew Nicholson defensive rebound
9:10
Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
9:08
Matt Knowling defensive rebound
8:52
+2
Clark Slajchert makes two point jump shot (Saint Thomas assists)
18-23
8:30
Jalen Leach misses two point jump shot
8:28
Saint Thomas defensive rebound
8:18
Wesley Yates III misses two point jump shot
8:16
Justin Mullins defensive rebound
7:57
Kevin Patton Jr. personal foul
7:57
TV timeout
7:38
Kevin Patton Jr. blocks Jalen Leach's two point jump shot
7:37
Wildcats offensive rebound
7:37
Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation)
7:21
Matthew Nicholson blocks Clark Slajchert's two point jump shot
7:19
Nick Martinelli defensive rebound
7:10
Nick Martinelli misses three point jump shot
7:08
Saint Thomas defensive rebound
7:03
Saint Thomas misses two point layup
7:01
Chibuzo Agbo offensive rebound
7:01
Angelo Ciaravino shooting foul (Chibuzo Agbo draws the foul)
7:01
Chibuzo Agbo misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:01
+1
Chibuzo Agbo makes regular free throw 2 of 2
19-23
6:39
+2
Jalen Leach makes two point jump shot
19-25
6:19
+3
Clark Slajchert makes three point jump shot (Saint Thomas assists)
22-25
6:01
Jalen Leach misses three point jump shot
5:59
Clark Slajchert defensive rebound
5:51
+2
Saint Thomas makes two point layup (Clark Slajchert assists)
24-25
5:33
Kevin Patton Jr. personal foul
5:20
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point jump shot
24-27
5:05
Ty Berry personal foul
4:48
Saint Thomas turnover (bad pass)
4:21
Kevin Patton Jr. blocks Nick Martinelli's two point jump shot
4:19
Jalen Leach offensive rebound
4:07
+2
Jalen Leach makes two point jump shot
24-29
3:58
Justin Mullins personal foul (Chibuzo Agbo draws the foul)
3:58
TV timeout
3:58
+1
Chibuzo Agbo makes regular free throw 1 of 2
25-29
3:58
+1
Chibuzo Agbo makes regular free throw 2 of 2
26-29
3:34
Ty Berry misses two point jump shot
3:32
Matt Knowling defensive rebound
3:03
Wesley Yates III misses two point jump shot
3:01
Ty Berry defensive rebound
2:52
Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
2:50
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
2:45
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point layup
26-31
2:20
Matt Knowling turnover (traveling)
2:04
Nick Martinelli misses two point hook shot
2:02
Kevin Patton Jr. defensive rebound
1:52
Nick Martinelli shooting foul (Matt Knowling draws the foul)
1:52
Matt Knowling misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:52
+1
Matt Knowling makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-31
1:41
Justin Mullins turnover (Kevin Patton Jr. steals)
1:35
+2
Kevin Patton Jr. makes two point dunk
29-31
1:35
Wildcats 30 second timeout
1:14
Kevin Patton Jr. personal foul (Justin Mullins draws the foul)
1:14
Justin Mullins misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:14
Saint Thomas defensive rebound
0:52
Chibuzo Agbo misses three point jump shot
0:50
Jalen Leach defensive rebound
0:38
+2
Matthew Nicholson makes two point dunk (Ty Berry assists)
29-33
0:08
Kevin Patton Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:06
Chibuzo Agbo offensive rebound
0:06
+2
Kevin Patton Jr. makes two point layup
31-33
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
USC
Trojans
44
NW
Wildcats
44
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:56
Ty Berry misses three point jump shot
19:54
Wesley Yates III defensive rebound
19:25
Saint Thomas misses two point jump shot
19:23
Justin Mullins defensive rebound
19:09
+2
Matthew Nicholson makes two point dunk (Jalen Leach assists)
31-35
18:52
+2
Clark Slajchert makes two point layup
33-35
18:35
+2
Matthew Nicholson makes two point dunk (Jalen Leach assists)
33-37
18:15
Saint Thomas misses three point jump shot
18:13
Wildcats defensive rebound
17:55
+2
Justin Mullins makes two point layup (Jalen Leach assists)
33-39
17:38
Rashaun Agee misses three point jump shot
17:36
Justin Mullins defensive rebound
17:17
Matthew Nicholson misses two point jump shot
17:15
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
17:08
Nick Martinelli misses two point layup
17:06
Rashaun Agee defensive rebound
17:02
Ty Berry personal foul
16:44
Wesley Yates III misses three point jump shot
16:42
Clark Slajchert offensive rebound
16:35
+2
Clark Slajchert makes two point jump shot
35-39
16:20
Wesley Yates III personal foul
16:14
+3
Justin Mullins makes three point jump shot (Nick Martinelli assists)
35-42
15:49
+2
Chibuzo Agbo makes two point jump shot (Saint Thomas assists)
37-42
15:28
Saint Thomas shooting foul (Jalen Leach draws the foul)
15:28
TV timeout
15:28
+1
Jalen Leach makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-43
15:28
+1
Jalen Leach makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-44
15:08
Chibuzo Agbo misses two point jump shot
15:06
Ty Berry defensive rebound
14:48
Jalen Leach misses two point jump shot
14:46
Wildcats offensive rebound
14:35
Ty Berry misses three point jump shot
14:33
Wildcats offensive rebound
14:21
Kevin Patton Jr. blocks Jalen Leach's two point layup
14:19
Keenan Fitzmorris offensive rebound
14:18
Saint Thomas shooting foul (Keenan Fitzmorris draws the foul)
14:18
+1
Keenan Fitzmorris makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-45
14:18
+1
Keenan Fitzmorris makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-46
13:58
Kevin Patton Jr. misses two point hook shot
13:56
Nick Martinelli defensive rebound
13:45
Saint Thomas personal foul
13:38
+2
Keenan Fitzmorris makes two point dunk (Ty Berry assists)
37-48
13:22
Kevin Patton Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Leach steals)
13:18
Kevin Patton Jr. personal foul
13:12
Ty Berry offensive foul
13:12
Ty Berry turnover (offensive foul)
12:57
+3
Clark Slajchert makes three point jump shot (Wesley Yates III assists)
40-48
12:44
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point jump shot
40-50
12:28
Wesley Yates III misses three point jump shot
12:26
Wesley Yates III offensive rebound
12:19
Matt Knowling misses two point jump shot
12:17
Nick Martinelli defensive rebound
12:06
Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
12:04
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
11:57
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point layup
40-52
11:49
+2
Matt Knowling makes two point layup (Saint Thomas assists)
42-52
11:31
Nick Martinelli misses three point jump shot
11:29
Matt Knowling defensive rebound
11:18
+2
Saint Thomas makes two point layup (Rashaun Agee assists)
44-52
10:58
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point layup (Justin Mullins assists)
44-54
10:41
Jalen Leach personal foul
10:41
TV timeout
10:39
Clark Slajchert turnover (Matthew Nicholson steals)
10:32
Clark Slajchert shooting foul (Blake Smith draws the foul)
10:32
+1
Blake Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
44-55
10:32
+1
Blake Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
44-56
10:22
Saint Thomas turnover (bad pass)
10:05
+3
Justin Mullins makes three point jump shot (Nick Martinelli assists)
44-59
9:47
+3
Rashaun Agee makes three point jump shot (Clark Slajchert assists)
47-59
9:20
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point jump shot
47-61
9:07
Rashaun Agee misses three point jump shot
9:05
Justin Mullins defensive rebound
8:49
Matt Knowling personal foul
8:49
Nick Martinelli misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:49
Rashaun Agee defensive rebound
8:42
Jalen Leach personal foul
8:38
+3
Wesley Yates III makes three point jump shot (Saint Thomas assists)
50-61
8:03
+3
Justin Mullins makes three point jump shot (K.J. Windham assists)
50-64
7:43
Nick Martinelli shooting foul
7:43
TV timeout
7:43
+1
Wesley Yates III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
51-64
7:43
+1
Wesley Yates III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
52-64
7:18
Matthew Nicholson misses two point hook shot
7:16
Matthew Nicholson offensive rebound
7:07
Matthew Nicholson misses two point hook shot
7:05
Rashaun Agee defensive rebound
6:58
Saint Thomas turnover (Ty Berry steals)
6:41
Nick Martinelli misses two point layup
6:39
Saint Thomas defensive rebound
6:33
Justin Mullins shooting foul (Wesley Yates III draws the foul)
6:33
+1
Wesley Yates III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-64
6:33
+1
Wesley Yates III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
54-64
6:07
Ty Berry misses three point jump shot
6:05
Keenan Fitzmorris offensive rebound
6:05
Rashaun Agee personal foul (Keenan Fitzmorris draws the foul)
6:05
+1
Keenan Fitzmorris makes regular free throw 1 of 2
54-65
6:05
+1
Keenan Fitzmorris makes regular free throw 2 of 2
54-66
5:58
+3
Wesley Yates III makes three point jump shot
57-66
5:26
Jalen Leach turnover (traveling)
5:03
Chibuzo Agbo misses three point jump shot
5:01
Matthew Nicholson defensive rebound
4:43
Chibuzo Agbo personal foul (Nick Martinelli draws the foul)
4:43
Nick Martinelli misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:43
Saint Thomas defensive rebound
4:39
Justin Mullins shooting foul (Wesley Yates III draws the foul)
4:39
+1
Wesley Yates III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
58-66
4:39
Wesley Yates III misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:39
Chibuzo Agbo offensive rebound
4:34
+2
Chibuzo Agbo makes two point layup
60-66
4:11
Rashaun Agee shooting foul (Blake Smith draws the foul)
4:11
+1
Blake Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
60-67
4:11
Blake Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:11
Saint Thomas defensive rebound
4:02
+2
Wesley Yates III makes two point layup (Saint Thomas assists)
62-67
3:30
Saint Thomas shooting foul (Nick Martinelli draws the foul)
3:30
TV timeout
3:30
+1
Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 1 of 2
62-68
3:30
+1
Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 2 of 2
62-69
3:07
Matthew Nicholson blocks Rashaun Agee's two point layup
3:05
Trojans offensive rebound
3:04
+2
Chibuzo Agbo makes two point layup (Saint Thomas assists)
64-69
2:36
Clark Slajchert shooting foul (Blake Smith draws the foul)
2:36
Blake Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:36
+1
Blake Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
64-70
2:31
+3
Clark Slajchert makes three point jump shot
67-70
2:02
Nick Martinelli misses two point layup
2:00
Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
1:54
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point layup
67-72
1:50
Blake Smith personal foul
1:50
Clark Slajchert misses regular free throw 1 of 3
1:50
Clark Slajchert misses regular free throw 2 of 3
1:50
+1
Clark Slajchert makes regular free throw 3 of 3
68-72
1:39
Wildcats 30 second timeout
1:39
TV timeout
1:24
Ty Berry misses two point jump shot
1:22
Rashaun Agee defensive rebound
1:15
Wesley Yates III misses two point jump shot
1:13
Matthew Nicholson defensive rebound
1:08
Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:47
+2
Nick Martinelli makes two point jump shot (Blake Smith assists)
68-74
0:35
+3
Chibuzo Agbo makes three point jump shot (Rashaun Agee assists)
71-74
0:35
Blake Smith shooting foul (Chibuzo Agbo draws the foul)
0:35
Chibuzo Agbo misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:35
Rashaun Agee personal foul
0:35
Matthew Nicholson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:35
+1
Matthew Nicholson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
71-75
0:29
+3
Clark Slajchert makes three point jump shot
74-75
0:29
Blake Smith shooting foul (Clark Slajchert draws the foul)
