Martinelli scores 34, Singleton has double-double as Northwestern downs Penn State 94-73

Nick Martinelli and Tre Singleton led the Wildcats to victory over the Nittany Lions.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:47pm

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Nick Martinelli scored 34 points and Tre Singleton notched a double-double with 17 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two blocks as Northwestern beat Penn State 94-73 on Thursday night. Martinelli was 13 of 19 from the field with four made 3-pointers, while Singleton recorded his first career double-double for the Wildcats.

Why it matters

This was an important Big Ten conference win for Northwestern, who improved to 10-11 overall and 2-8 in the conference. Penn State, the Big Ten's youngest team, remains winless in conference play at 0-10.

The details

Martinelli entered Thursday as the fourth-leading scorer in Division I at 23.4 points per game and has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. The Wildcats led 45-40 at the half, but stretched that lead with an 11-2 run early in the second half. The Nittany Lions drew back with an 8-0 run, before allowing a 9-0 run from Martinelli and Singleton to fall into a 17-point hole. Northwestern shot 60% from the field and 55% behind the arc, compared to 49% and 33% for Penn State.

  • The game was played on Thursday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Nick Martinelli

A Northwestern player who scored 34 points in the game, his fourth time scoring 32 or more points this season.

Tre Singleton

A Northwestern freshman who recorded a double-double with 17 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Angelo Ciaravino

A Northwestern player who added 20 points off the bench.

Jake West

A Northwestern player who had 13 assists.

Kayden Mingo

A Penn State freshman who led the Nittany Lions with 15 points.

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The takeaway

Northwestern's dominant performance, led by the scoring of Martinelli and the all-around play of Singleton, showcased the Wildcats' potential despite their sub-.500 record. Penn State's continued struggles in Big Ten play highlight the challenges facing the conference's youngest team.