Nick Martinelli scored a career-high-tying 32 points and freshman Tre Singleton added a career-high 17 as Northwestern gradually pulled away for an 80-60 nonconference victory over Howard on Tuesday afternoon in Evanston, Ill.
Martinelli, who missed the Wildcats’ previous game with a concussion, added six rebounds, two blocks and two steals as Northwestern (8-5) snapped Howard’s five-game winning streak. Singleton, who got the start because center Arrinten Page (14. 7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) sat out for violating team standards, added eight rebounds and five assists.
Travelle Bryson came off the bench to score a season-high 19 points for the Bison (9-6), who trailed by just two with 12 minutes to play. Ose Okojie added 13 points but Bryce Harris, who entered the day averaging a team-high 19.8 points per game, fouled out at the 7:22 mark with a season-low four points.
Singleton posted up for two early baskets to build a 7-2 lead, but Howard soon caught fire from 3-point range. Alex Cotton drilled two 3-pointers and Cedric Taylor III added a third as the Bison claimed a 13-9 advantage at the 12:50 mark.
Northwestern responded with three straight 3-pointers to trigger a 10-0 run and take the lead for good. Martinelli kicked out to Justin Mullins for an open 3-pointer, then Max Green found Martinelli and Mullins for 3-pointers.
When Jayden Reid pushed the ball in transition and found Mullins unguarded on the wing, the senior guard cashed his third 3-pointer in three tries to build a 24-15 lead and force Howard to call a timeout with 7:32 left in the half.
Howard switched to a zone that stifled the Wildcats for five minutes, but Mullins (12 points) found open space in the corner and improved to 4-for-4 from the 3-point arc to make it 29-23 with 1:43 to go. Mullins entered the game 4 of 14 on 3-point attempts for the season.
Bryson sank a 3-pointer and converted his own putback to cut Northwestern’s lead to 31-28 at the break. Mullins and Martinelli combined for 23 points on just 11 shots from the field.
After Northwestern grabbed zero offensive rebounds in the first half — leading to a minus-10 margin on the boards — the Wildcats played with more fervor at both ends and claimed five offensive rebounds in the first three minutes of the second half and won the boards 36-35 overall.
But Northwestern wasn’t able to shake Howard until the Bison got into foul trouble and the Singleton-Martinelli combo took over in the paint. They scored 23 of the Wildcats’ first 24 points of the second half as the hosts pulled away.
–Field Level Media
