EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men’s basketball returns home for its sole contest of the week when it faces Maryland on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Steve Smith (analyst) on the call, and it can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 210/197 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
Last time out (Feb. 14), the Wildcats (10-16, 2-13 Big Ten) held a one-point lead with 12:30 to play, but could not hold on and fell on the road to No. 7 Nebraska, 68-49. Northwestern forced the Cornhuskers into 18 turnovers, which is Northwestern’s most turnovers forced in a game this season. It marked the Wildcats’ most forced turnovers against an AP Top 10 team since Jan. 21, 2009, against No. 7 Michigan State (18). Northwestern’s nine steals were tied for its most in conference play this season. Senior forward Nick Martinelli led the team with 11 points.
This season, Martinelli leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth nationally in scoring, averaging 22.1 points per game, while converting 50.0% of his field goal attempts (9th in Big Ten). The Glenview, Ill., native is pulling down 6.4 rebounds per game (15th). Martinelli has 18 games with 20+ points this season, which leads the conference and ranks tied for third nationally. Martinelli’s 22.1 points per game would rank fifth in program history, trailing Dale Kelley in 1969-70 (24.3), Frank Ehmann in 1954-55 (23.9), Rich Falk in 1963-64 (23.3), and Joe Ruklick in 1958-59 (23.0). Martinelli would be the first Northwestern player to average 20+ points per game in back-to-back campaigns since Jim Burns (1965-66, 1966-67). Over the last two seasons, Martinelli has scored 1,228 points, which ranks second nationally and is the most by a forward.
Martinelli joins Zach Edey (2022-23, 2023-24), Keegan Murray (2020-21), and Luka Garza (2019-20, 2020-21) as the only Big Ten players in the past 30 years to average 22+ points per game and 6+ rebounds per game.
Martinelli had a 12-game streak of 20+ points from Dec. 6, 2025-Jan. 29, 2026. It was the third-longest streak by a Big Ten player since 1996-97, behind Iowa’s Luka Garza (2020, 19) and Purdue’s Zach Edey (2024, 16). It was also tied for the eighth-longest streak by a high-major player since 1996-97.
Martinelli has scored in double figures 67 times in his career, including 50 of his last 52 games, and has posted 20+ points 38 times, ranking third at Northwestern since 2004, trailing only John Shurna (2008-12, 45) and Boo Buie (2019-2024, 41).
Martinelli has five career 30+ point games, tied for the most among active Big Ten players.
Martinelli has 1,580 career points, which ranks 10th in Northwestern program history. He needs two points to pass Vedran Vukusic (2001-06) to move into ninth place, and four points to pass Jim Stack (1978-83) to move into eighth place.
Martinelli has 552 points this season, which is the 10th-most in Northwestern single-season history. He needs two points to pass 2010-11 Michael “Juice” Thompson to move into ninth place, 19 points to pass 1998-99 Evan Eschmeyer to move into eighth place, 31 points to pass 1969-70 Dale Kelley to move into seventh place, and 34 points to pass 1997-98 Evan Eschmeyer to move into sixth place.
Last season, Martinelli set program records in single-season points (676) and field goals made (251).
The Wildcats have continued to share the ball without turning it over, as their 1.99 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks third in the nation. Northwestern is averaging the nation’s third-fewest turnovers (8.6), while ranking 36th in the country with 17.1 assists per game. The Wildcats’ offense is producing 74.0 points per game, its most since 1993-94 (75.0). Northwestern has scored 75 or more points in 14 games this season and is aiming to reach that mark for the 15th time, which would be its most in a single season since 1993-94 (16).
Northwestern’s 8.6 turnovers per game is a program record.
The Wildcats’ 17.1 assists rank second in program history, trailing only 1993-94 (17.8).
Northwestern’s +2.6 turnover margin ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 51st nationally.
The Wildcats are forcing opponents to turn the ball over 11.2 times per game, which ranks eighth in the conference.
Northwestern has upped its pace this season, averaging 11.6 fast break points per game — ranking third in the Big Ten.
Junior guard Jayden Reid has averaged 10.4 points and 4.9 assists per game (5th in Big Ten). He is one of six players in the Big Ten with at least 15 games with 5+ assists. Junior forward Arrinten Page is averaging 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game (15th in Big Ten) on 55.1% shooting.
First-year forward Tre Singleton has 23 starts this season, the most by a Northwestern first-year since 2019-20 when Ryan Young tallied 31, and is averaging 8.1 points (12th among Big Ten first-years), 5.0 rebounds (T-4th), and 1.5 assists (T-8th) per game. His 8.1 points per game are the most by a Wildcat first-year since the 2019-20 season (Boo Buie: 10.3, Ryan Young: 9.0).
First-year guard Jake West has started the last 10 games for the Wildcats. Over his last 11 games, he is averaging 6.4 points and 4.3 assists per game. His 2.7 assists per game on the season rank fourth among Big Ten first-years, and is the most by a Northwestern first-year since Bryant McIntosh averaged 4.7 in 2014-15.
Sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino is averaging career-highs across the board with 6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game on 52.0% shooting.
Wednesday night’s action marks the 21st meeting in program history between the Wildcats and the Terrapins (10-15, 3-11 Big Ten). Northwestern has claimed three of the last four and five of the last eight games in the series. The Wildcats are aiming to win four of five games for the first time in series history.
The Wildcats and the Terrapins split last season’s matchups. When the teams faced off on Jan. 16, 2025, inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, Martinelli drilled the game-winning jump shot in overtime to cap off his 22-point evening. Brooks Barnhizer posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Ty Berry added 15 points off the bench. Maryland hosted Northwestern on its Senior Night on March 8, 2025, and won 74-61. Martinelli recorded 28 points while moving past John Shurna (2011-12, 228) to set a single-season program benchmark in field goals made.
Maryland comes to Evanston as winners of two of its last three. The Terrapins pull down 12.2 offensive boards per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten. They make 16.3 free throws (5th in Big Ten) and 8.4 threes per game (7th in Big Ten). David Coit leads the team with 15.2 points (15th in Big Ten) and 2.9 assists per game. He makes 2.6 threes per game, the seventh-most in the conference.
Maryland forces 11.0 turnovers per game, which ranks ninth in the conference.
Darius Adams (11.8) and Solomon Washington (10.2) join Coit in averaging double-figures in scoring.
The Wildcats travel to Bloomington, Ind., on Tuesday, Feb. 24, to face Indiana in their penultimate road game of the season. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.