Northwestern stuns Indiana, 72-68, for sixth straight win in series

Star forward Nick Martinelli's 28 points lead Wildcats to comeback victory over Hoosiers

Feb. 25, 2026 at 3:54am

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The Big Ten's most unexpected streak continued on Tuesday night in Bloomington, Ind., as Northwestern stormed back from a double-digit deficit to beat Indiana, 72-68, for their sixth straight win in the series. Star forward Nick Martinelli was outstanding with 28 points, 21 in the second half alone, on 12-for-21 shooting.

Why it matters

Northwestern's win over Indiana extends their surprising dominance in the series, as the Wildcats have now beaten the Hoosiers six straight times. This game showcases the emergence of Martinelli as a star player in the Big Ten and the continued development of the Wildcats' young core, led by freshman guard Jake West.

The details

Martinelli scored 28 points, including 21 in the second half, to lead the Wildcats' comeback. Freshman guard Jake West added 16 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal the win. The game came down to the wire, with Indiana cutting the Wildcat lead to one in the final seconds, but a no-call on a potential foul allowed Northwestern to hold on for the 72-68 victory.

  • The game was played on Tuesday night in Bloomington, Indiana.

The players

Nick Martinelli

A star forward for Northwestern who scored 28 points, including 21 in the second half, to lead the Wildcats to victory.

Jake West

A freshman guard for Northwestern who scored 16 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal the win.

Lamar Wilkerson

A player for Indiana who had 14 points in the first half, going 5-for-5 from the floor with four 3-pointers, to help the Hoosiers build an early lead.

Arrinten Page

A center for Northwestern who played 27 minutes off the bench, his most since the first Illinois game on Jan. 14.

Angelo Ciaravino

A player for Northwestern who played 27 minutes, trending towards the de facto shooting guard next to Jake West.

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What they’re saying

“This was a game that Martinelli refused to lose.”

— Matthew Shelton, Author (on3.com)

“West gave the Wildcats reliable ball handling, more perimeter scoring and incredibly clutch shooting down the stretch. He was absolutely essential to this win, and this is the kind of game that becomes a career cornerstone for a promising rookie.”

— Matthew Shelton, Author (on3.com)

What’s next

Northwestern has notched another win in the Big Ten to lift their record to 4-13, leaving them tied with Rutgers for 15th place in the conference standings. There is now an opportunity for Northwestern to get out of this season on a relative high note, with a chance to win four of their last five games.

The takeaway

This game showcases the emergence of Nick Martinelli as a star player in the Big Ten and the continued development of Northwestern's young core, led by freshman guard Jake West. The Wildcats' surprising dominance over Indiana extends to six straight wins, highlighting the program's progress despite their overall record.