EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men’s basketball continues its nonconference play as it hosts Jackson State on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Big Ten Network with Mike Hall (play-by-play) and Rapheal Davis (analyst) on the call and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 372 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
Last time out, the Wildcats (5-4, 0-2 Big Ten) failed to hold on to an early second-half lead against Ohio State and were bested 86-82 on Saturday, Dec. 6. Senior forward Nick Martinelli tied his career-high with 32 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while adding seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. He became just the third Big Ten player to record these numbers in a conference game since 2005, joining Rutgers’ Corey Sanders (2016) and Ohio State’s Evan Turner (2010). Sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino tied his season-high with 14 points and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds, while junior forward Arrinten Page logged 13 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Collins is in his 13th season guiding the Wildcats. With 199 career wins in Evanston, he is one victory shy of joining Naismith Hall of Famer Dutch Lonborg (1927-50) as the only head coaches in program history to reach 200 wins.
Northwestern has made 50.1% of its field goal attempts, ranking seventh in the Big Ten and 36th nationally. It is the highest percentage the team has shot over the season’s first nine games during the Collins era. The Wildcats are scoring 81.1 points per game and posted at least 70 points in the first nine games of a season for the first time since 1990-91.
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 9.8 times per game — the third-fewest in the Big Ten and the 25th-fewest nationwide — while posting a 1.88 assist/turnover ratio (3rd in Big Ten, 15th nationally). Compared to previous years, Northwestern is playing at a faster pace and has averaged 14.4 fast break points per game (3rd in Big Ten).
Martinelli has scored in double-figures in 34 of his last 35 games, and had a streak of 30 games, the longest by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (1997-99, 65). So far this season, Martinelli is averaging 21.1 points (3rd in Big Ten, 12th nationally) and 6.9 rebounds (14th in Big Ten) per game while converting 57.0% of his shot attempts (8th). Martinelli is the nation’s only player averaging 21+ points and 6+ rebounds per game on at least 57% shooting. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has scored 20+ points 24 times, which leads the Big Ten. His six games with 20+ points this season is tied for the most in the conference. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 866 points dating back to last season, which ranks fourth in the NCAA and is the most by a forward.
Transfer acquisitions Page and junior guard Jayden Reid have made an instant impact for Northwestern. Page, who comes to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 15.4 points (18th in Big Ten), 7.1 rebounds (11th), 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks (14th) per game on 60.0% shooting (5th). He is one of two players in the country to average these numbers. Page has reached double-figures in six straight games, and has scored the most points in a player’s first nine career games as a Wildcat (139) since at least 1996-97.
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 11.8 points and 5.9 assists per game (5th in Big Ten). Reid has recorded 5+ assists in six of his past eight games. Reid’s 50 assists over the past eight games are the most by a Wildcat over an eight-game stretch since Boo Buie (51) from Jan. 17-Feb. 11, 2024. He posted season-highs of 25 points against Virginia (Nov. 21) and had nine assists versus South Carolina (Nov. 23). Both marked the most by a Northwestern guard since Buie reached those figures in the 2023-24 season.
Ciaravino is averaging career-highs across the board with 7.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 57.8% from the floor. Ciaravino is the first Wildcat underclassman to average 7+ points, 3+ rebounds, and 2+ assists since Bryant McIntosh (2015-16). Ciaravino has tallied 14 points twice within his last three games.
Northwestern will face the Tigers (1-8) for the second time in program history. The teams last played on Dec. 29, 2023, with the Wildcats notching a 74-63 victory. Northwestern is 14-1 against the SWAC all-time, and 7-0 under Collins.
Jackson State comes to Evanston on a two-game losing streak, following an 80-38 loss at No. 7 Houston. The Tigers are led by Daeshun Ruffin and Jayme Mitchell Jr., who average 14.3 and 13.3 points per game, respectively. Jackson State ranks third in the SWAC with 7.9 threes per game.
The Wildcats close their three-game homestand with a contest against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Dec. 16, inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. CT on Peacock and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
