Nick Martinelli scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and his basket with 2.6 seconds left helped Northwestern hold off USC 77-75 on Tuesday in Evanston.
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Martinelli split a double team near the baseline and softly laid it in to give the Wildcats (13-10, 4-8 Big Ten) the lead in the closing seconds. Out of a timeout, the Trojans put the ball in the hands of Clark Slajchert, who took a few dribbles before a Wildcats defender knocked it out of bounds and time expired.
Slajchert converted a four-point play on a straightaway 3-pointer and a free throw with 29 seconds left to tie it at 75. With 1:54 left and the Trojans trailing 72-67, Slajchert drew a foul on Blake Smith beyond the arc but made only 1 of 3 from the line.
The Wildcats led 33-31 at halftime and stretched the margin to 59-44 over the first 10 minutes of the second half before the Trojans fought their way back but never took the lead.
Martinelli recorded a career-high 10 offensive rebounds and reserve Justin Mullins scored 14 points for the Wildcats, who lost Brooks Barnhizer this week to a season-ending foot injury.
Slajchert scored 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting, Wesley Yates III scored 15 points and Chibuzo Agbo had 14 for the Trojans (13-9, 5-6).
USC plays at No. 7 Purdue on Friday. Northwestern plays at Washington on Saturday.