Northwestern tops Maryland 78-74 behind Martinelli's 29 points

Wildcats end five-game losing skid with victory over Terrapins

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Nick Martinelli scored 29 points to lead Northwestern to a 78-74 victory over Maryland on Wednesday night, ending the Wildcats' five-game losing streak. Northwestern led 35-34 at halftime and took control in the second half with a 16-3 run fueled by four 3-pointers from Jordan Clayton and Jake West. Maryland's Andre Mills scored a career-high 39 points, but the Terrapins couldn't overcome the Wildcats' hot shooting, as Northwestern made 12 of 21 3-pointers and assisted on 20 field goals.

Why it matters

The win snaps a five-game losing streak for Northwestern, which has struggled in Big Ten play this season. For Maryland, the loss continues a difficult campaign as the Terrapins look to turn things around. The game also featured a milestone for Martinelli, who moved into eighth place on Northwestern's career scoring list.

The details

Northwestern led 35-34 at halftime and took control of the game midway through the second half with a 16-3 run. The surge, fueled by four 3-pointers from Jordan Clayton and Jake West, gave the Wildcats a double-digit lead that they would not relinquish. Maryland's Andre Mills scored a career-high 39 points, but the Terrapins couldn't overcome Northwestern's hot shooting, as the Wildcats made 12 of 21 3-pointers and assisted on 20 field goals.

  • The game was played on Wednesday night.
  • Northwestern led 35-34 at halftime.

The players

Nick Martinelli

A Northwestern player who scored 29 points to lead the Wildcats to victory. Martinelli moved into eighth place on Northwestern's career scoring list in the first half, surpassing 1,588 career points.

Andre Mills

A Maryland player who scored a career-high 39 points in the loss.

Jordan Clayton

A Northwestern player who scored a career-high 20 points, including a career-best 6 of 7 from 3-point range.

Angelo Ciaravino

A Northwestern player who scored 16 points in the win.

Solomon Washington

A Maryland player who had 14 rebounds and 11 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game highlights the continued struggles of both Northwestern and Maryland this season, as the Wildcats snap a five-game losing streak while the Terrapins' difficult campaign continues. The performance of Martinelli and Clayton for Northwestern, as well as Mills' career night for Maryland, were the key storylines from this Big Ten matchup.