Nick Martinelli scored 20 points to go with nine rebounds and Jayden Reid added 17 points and eight assists to help host Northwestern to a 76-52 victory against Boston University on Friday in Evanston, Ill.
Northwestern (2-0) capitalized on savvy defense and speed in a game in which it never trailed. The Wildcats scored 18 points off 14 Terriers turnovers while holding a 12-5 advantage in fast-break points and a 40-16 edge in points in the paint.
The Wildcats, who led by as many as 30 points after halftime, shot 51.7% while committing just five turnovers.
Martinelli illustrated the Wildcats’ hustle late in the first half, taking Tre Singleton’s pass off a Terriers’ missed 3-pointer and sprinting in for a fast-break layup through contact. Martinelli hit the free throw to finish off a three-point play.
Boston University shot 32.8%, including a 9-for-23 effort from deep. Michael McNair led the team with 20 points while shooting 6-for-10 from long range. Sam Hughes chipped in nine points and Malcolm Chimezie snagged a game-high 10 rebounds.
The teams finished nearly even on the glass, with the Terriers holding a 37-36 rebounding edge. Boston University grabbed 15 offensive boards compared to 11 for Northwestern.
The Terriers struggled from the floor at the start, leading to a double-digit deficit after just 6:42. They stayed afloat behind a sequence of treys from McNair, who drilled three triples over a 1:51 span to snap a lengthy scoring drought.
The third make over that stretch brought the Terriers to within 22-13, but the Wildcats responded with a Martinelli trey that kicked off an 11-4 run that stretched the advantage to 16 points with 4:11 to go before halftime.
Martinelli (15 points) and Reid (11) combined to shoot 10-for-15 in the first half, helping the Wildcats take a 45-26 lead into intermission.
Northwestern prevailed despite shooting just 7-for-13 from the three-throw line.
Terriers guard Kyrone Alexander, who left Monday’s season opener with a left leg injury, sat on the bench with crutches and is expected to miss up to four weeks.
