Purdue Escapes Northwestern 70-66
No. 15 Purdue escaped with a narrow 70-66 victory over Northwestern, thanks to a late rally led by C.J. Cox. Cox's clutch play helped Purdue recover from a slow start and secure a vital conference win, keeping their NCAA Tournament seeding hopes alive as March Madness draws near.
The victory for Purdue snapped a two-game losing streak and marked their seventh road win in conference play this season. Before this win, the Boilermakers had lost three of their last four games. The win was crucial for Purdue's postseason aspirations, as they look to build momentum heading into the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Sophomore guard C.J. Cox delivered a career-high 27 points for Purdue, scoring 21 of those in the second half. His performance included a pivotal go-ahead three-pointer with just 48 seconds left in the game. Cox was instrumental in erasing an 11-point deficit for the Boilermakers. For Northwestern, the loss was a heartbreaker on their Senior Night, snapping a three-game winning streak. Senior forward Nick Martinelli, the Big Ten's leading scorer, put on a remarkable performance in his final home game, scoring 28 points, with 19 of those coming in the second half. The game was a tight contest with 11 lead changes. Northwestern held a 34-25 lead at halftime, but Purdue surged in the second half, shooting 62.5% from the field. A 9-0 run by the Boilermakers in the second half was a key turning point, tying the game at 43. With the regular season concluding, this win helps Purdue's positioning for the Big Ten Tournament. A path remains for the Boilermakers to secure a triple-bye, which would require a win in their final game against Wisconsin and an Iowa victory over Nebraska. Northwestern, on the other hand, entered the game with minimal NCAA tournament aspirations.
