Purdue Rallies Past Northwestern 70-66
No. 15 Purdue edged out Northwestern 70-66 thanks to a late-game surge from C.J. Cox, keeping them in the national conversation as March Madness approaches. Northwestern's Nick Martinelli led the Wildcats in scoring, but Purdue's resilience in the final minutes made the difference in the closely fought contest.
This victory was a crucial momentum-shifter for Purdue, snapping a two-game losing streak and improving their Big Ten record to 13-6. The win keeps them in the hunt for a top seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Purdue's C.J. Cox was the catalyst for the comeback, scoring a career-high 27 points, with 21 of those coming in the second half. This offensive outburst far exceeded his season average of 8.0 points per game. The Boilermakers overcame a significant halftime deficit, having been held to a season-low 25 points in the first half by a staunch Northwestern defense. Purdue's offense ignited in the second half, shooting 62.5% from the field to secure the win. For Northwestern, the loss was a heartbreaker in the final home game for senior Nick Martinelli. Martinelli, the Big Ten's leading scorer, poured in 28 points, continuing a remarkable season where he has been the offensive anchor for the Wildcats. This loss drops Northwestern to 5-14 in conference play, effectively ending their hopes of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats will now look to play the role of spoiler in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. With this win, Purdue solidifies its position as a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Projections from various outlets have the Boilermakers slated as a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in March Madness.
