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- The Northwestern Wildcats defeated the Montana State Bobcats 72-69 on Tuesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
- Head Coach Chris Collins praised the team's response to game pressure.
- Barnhizer had a strong first half, scoring 14 points with eight rebounds and three assists.
Wildcats Edge Bobcats in Close Game
The Northwestern Wildcats defeated the Montana State Bobcats 72-69 on Tuesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Senior Brooks Barnhizer led the Wildcats with a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in his season debut. Junior Nick Martinelli contributed a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds.
Head Coach Chris Collins praised the team’s response to game pressure. “We were able to get stops when we needed them,” he said. Barnhizer and Martinelli each made three steals, becoming the first pair of Wildcats to score over 20 points in the same game this season. Graduate student Jalen Leach added 12 points and Matthew Nicholson matched his career-high with four blocks.
Northwestern struggled early but managed to pull through. The Bobcats led 39-34 at halftime. Barnhizer had a strong first half, scoring 14 points with eight rebounds and three assists. Collins highlighted Barnhizer’s impact, noting his competitiveness and leadership on the court.
In the second half, Martinelli came alive, scoring 10 of the Wildcats’ first 12 points. He finished with 16 points in the second half and has now scored in double figures for five straight games, matching a personal best.
The game was tightly contested, featuring 13 lead changes and 15 ties. Martinelli’s floater put Northwestern ahead 63-62 with under four minutes left, and they maintained the lead. With the score tied at 67, Barnhizer assisted Nicholson for an alley-oop, putting Northwestern up by two points.
As the clock wound down, Berry blocked a crucial shot by Bobcats player Brandon Walker. Free throws by Leach and Justin Mullins finalized the Wildcats’ victory.
Northwestern improved to 4-1 this season and will play Pepperdine on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on B1G+ and WGN Radio 720.