A double-digit lead turned into a crushing loss.
In a year filled with heartbreak for the Wildcats, Sunday marked another chapter in a nightmarish 2024-25 season. What had the makings of a culture-building blowout victory turned into a devastating late-season loss for Northwestern.
Nebraska (17-9, 7-8 B1G) fought back from a 15-point deficit at the half to defeat Northwestern (13-13, 4-11 B1G) 68-64. At one point, the Huskers trailed by as many as 20.
In the loss, Ty Berry and Nick Martinelli led the way for the ‘Cats, each contributing 23 points. Martinelli also added nine rebounds. Although the Wildcats dominated on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 46-27, they failed to secure the win.
Brice Williams headlined the comeback for the Huskers with 21 points, including eight made free throws. Juwan Gary also contributed 17 points. In the second half, where the Huskers outscored the Wildcats 47-28, the away team shot a scorching 61% from the field. The comeback win kept the March-hopeful Huskers on the tournament bubble while further sinking Northwestern to the depths of the Big Ten barrel.
Justin Mullins opened the scoring with a dunk, and Martinelli followed up with his own basket on the following possession as the Huskers failed to respond each time.
After a third failed drive by Nebraska, Berry sunk a three to extend Northwestern’s lead to 7-0. A foul brought Nebraska’s Andrew Morgan to the free-throw line, where he missed both shots, but the ‘Cats failed to capitalize.
A series of back-and-forths kept the score locked for nearly two minutes. But out of the game’s first timeout, Morgan made one of two free throws to give Nebraska its first point of the game at the 15:40 mark. In response, Keenan Fitzmorris rebounded a blocked Mullins’ layup to make it 9-1. Morgan was once again brought to the free throw line, improving on his first two attempts by making both shots.
Just like the previous Wildcat possession, Fitzmorris grabbed the offensive rebound and fought off Husker defenders to find a shot and sink a basket. Both teams made shots on their subsequent possessions, which included two Berry threes. Berry was also rewarded a foul shot on one of the attempts, which he made good on to move the ‘Cats ahead 18-7.
Nebraska’s Williams followed up with his third basket of the game, but Fitzmorris continued to flex his shooting in response. After first-year Angelo Ciaravino wrestled the ball loose from the Huskers, he was fouled on his layup and fell hard to the ground. The call was upgraded to a flagrant foul in review, awarding Ciaravino a pair of free throws and giving NU an extra possession. A second-chance jumper from Matt Nicholson and a three from Ciaravino further extended the NU lead to 26-11.
Out of a Nebraska timeout, Morgan made a three to end the Huskers’ three-minute scoring drought, but Martinelli quickly responded. The trend continued as Morgan found the back of the net again, but then Martinelli was brought to the free-throw line, keeping NU ahead 31-16.
To add insult to injury, Berry sunk his fourth three-pointer of the first half, giving him 13 of the team’s 34 points. Northwestern continued to show its dominance on the glass, as Martinelli made a second-chance jumper to add points to the board for NU, as Nebraska managed another five. The ‘Cats carried a 36-21 lead into the break, after a half highlighted by 12 second-chance points and four Berry threes. At halftime, NU led the rebounding battle 29-11, including a 14-2 margin on the offensive glass.
Berry defiantly sunk a three-pointer to start the second half. And to continue trends from the previous frame, Martinelli scored off an offensive rebound to make it 41-21.
The Huskers seemed to gain some momentum, scoring nine points, but Berry’s sixth three-pointer of the afternoon kept Northwestern’s cushion in place. Nebraska would then call a timeout, after a jumper from Martinelli and a Berry dunk off a steal made by Nicholson.
The Huskers made two threes over the next two minutes while Northwestern struggled to buy a bucket. Nebraska soon found itself within just eight points of the lead, as the Huskers went on an 11-0 run over the four minutes since Berry’s last three to come within reach of the 50-43 lead.
Ciaravino finally made a basket for Northwestern, capitalizing off a steal from Martinelli and unleashing a tirade of traded baskets, as the score moved to 54-48.
Over two scoreless minutes went by, where both teams struggled to make a shot, but Nebraska’s Gary ended the drought at the free throw line to inch Nebraska just two baskets away from the lead at 54-50. The ‘Cats failed to make a much-needed shot on their next two drives. Nebraska capitalized on the drought as it scored twice to tie the game.
Martinelli finally broke through for the ‘Cats, but the lead was short-lived as it was tied up on the next possession on a dunk from Braxton Meah. Nebraska had a chance at its first lead on a free throw, but Williams missed the shot, allowing Nicholson to grab the rebound and set up Mullins to retake the lead for NU at 58-56.
Nebraska found its first lead of the game on a three-point play from Meah, but Martinelli then responded to reclaim it at 60-59 with under three minutes left.
A foul by K.J. Windham brought Williams back to the charity stripe, where his pair of free throws moved the Huskers back on top 61-60. The Wildcat’s misfortune continued, as a turnover gave the Huskers the ball with under a minute left and allowed them to pull ahead 63-60.
Nicholson made a second-chance shot off a missed Martinelli attempt to bring the ‘Cats within one, but Williams headed to the foul line on the next drive to push Nebraska ahead 65-62. Martinelli quickly made a layup to make it a one-point game with 13 seconds left, and Chris Collins called time out.
On the inbound pass, Williams was fouled and made both free throws. Berry and Martinelli fumbled the exchange down three, giving the ball back to Nebraska, who iced the game with a free throw to make the final score 68-64.
Northwestern hopes to snap a three-game losing streak in Columbus on Thursday when it faces Ohio State at 5:30 p.m. CST.