Northwestern Beats Penn State, Advances in Big Ten Tournament

Wildcats win 76-66 despite missing key center Arrinten Page

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Northwestern Wildcats defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 76-66 in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. Forward Nick Martinelli led the way for Northwestern with 24 points and 9 rebounds, while guard Jayden Reid added 14 points and 9 assists. The Wildcats were without starting center Arrinten Page due to illness, but got key contributions from freshmen forwards Tre Singleton and Tyler Kropp to fill the void in the middle.

Why it matters

Northwestern's win keeps their season alive as they advance to the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Wildcats have struggled to make the NCAA Tournament in recent years, so this tournament run is crucial for their postseason hopes. Penn State's loss ends their season, as they were the 18th seed in the conference tournament.

The details

Northwestern assisted on 21 of their 27 made field goals, showcasing their unselfish play. Penn State's Ivan Juric scored 12 of the team's first 16 points by taking advantage of the absence of Arrinten Page, but the Wildcats settled in and pulled away in the second half. Freshman forwards Tre Singleton and Tyler Kropp combined for 13 points and 8 rebounds to help fill the void left by Page's absence.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago.
  • Arrinten Page missed his second straight game due to illness and will also sit out the next game against Indiana.

The players

Nick Martinelli

A forward for the Northwestern Wildcats who led the team with 24 points and 9 rebounds in the win over Penn State.

Jayden Reid

A guard for the Northwestern Wildcats who scored 14 points and dished out 9 assists in the victory.

Ivan Juric

A player for the Penn State Nittany Lions who scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the losing effort.

Tre Singleton

A freshman forward for the Northwestern Wildcats who stepped up with 9 points and 3 rebounds after Arrinten Page's absence.

Tyler Kropp

A freshman forward for the Northwestern Wildcats who contributed 4 points and 5 rebounds, including 4 offensive boards, in 14 minutes of play.

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What they’re saying

“As we say, it's next man up. I thought Kropp did a great job when he came in. It doesn't matter who you're guarding and what space you're in, you just have to do the job and get the job done.”

— Nick Martinelli, Forward, Northwestern Wildcats (on3.com)

“I thought Tyler really stepped up. He really stepped up and gave us good minutes tonight. It was exciting for me to see as a young player in his first Big Ten Tournament to come in and give those positive minutes for us.”

— Chris Collins, Head Coach, Northwestern Wildcats (on3.com)

What’s next

The Wildcats will face the 10th-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, March 11th at 5:30 pm. Northwestern defeated Indiana 72-68 just two weeks ago, but the Hoosiers will be looking to bounce back after losing 5 of their last 6 games.

The takeaway

Northwestern's ability to overcome the absence of starting center Arrinten Page and get key contributions from their bench players was crucial in securing the opening round victory. The Wildcats' defensive intensity, forcing 17 turnovers, also played a major role in the win. As Northwestern advances, they will need continued balanced scoring and defensive effort to keep their postseason hopes alive.