No. 25 Northwestern faltered against DePaul after an upset. The Wildcats found their groove and hit crucial shots in the second half to win.
Nick Martinelli scores 16 points, No. 25 Northwestern bounces back to beat DePaul 56-46 (Photo: Google)
Northwestern Recovers from Setback to Beat DePaul
Northwestern rallied to beat DePaul 56-46 on Saturday with 16 points from Nick Martinelli. Wildcats prevailed after losing to Chicago State earlier in the week owing to Ryan Langborg (14 points), Brooks Barnhizer, and Boo Buie (11 each). Northwestern went 8-2 after winning.
Northwestern coach Chris Collins emphasized resilience after losing to Chicago State. The loss may end a brief Top 25 run after defeating then-No. 1 Purdue. Northwestern defeated DePaul after gaining control in the second half. Even on bad shooting nights, Brooks Barnhizer believes defense is crucial. Nick Martinelli scored 12 first-half points and Ryan Langborg made four 3-pointers.
Brooks Barnhizer shot 4/13 with two 3-pointers after a tough first half. To win, Boo Buie finished 4 of 14 with five rebounds and four assists while averaging 18.9 points. Northwestern won 6-of-7 over DePaul despite shooting 36%. DePaul lost their seventh straight Top 25 game despite 12 points from Jeremiah Oden. Coach Tony Stubblefield praised DePaul’s defense against a skilled Northwestern squad, admitting DePaul couldn’t score.
READ ALSO: No. 12 Tennessee holds off N.C. State 79-70 in Hall of Fame Series for 4th straight win
Northwestern Comeback and Road Victory: Making History
Northwestern coach Chris Collins warns his players about sports’ instability after a heartbreaking loss against Chicago State. Despite losing, the Wildcats defeated better teams while learning. Barnhizer, Buie, and Martinelli went 13-4 against DePaul to lead Northwestern. Barnhizer’s 3-pointer and layup, Buie’s step-back 3, and Martinelli’s runner gave the Wildcats a 50-38 lead with six minutes left, ensuring their dominance.
Northwestern won its first-rated road game since 1969. However, their Top 25 stay should be brief. After defeating Louisville, DePaul struggled to win next. The Blue Demons are 27-47 under Tony Stubblefield after two seasons.
READ ALSO: No. 11 Oklahoma pulls away from Green Bay 81-47 in tune-up for No. 9 North Carolina
