Northwestern defeats Minnesota, advances in Big Ten tournament

Northwestern defeated Minnesota 72-64 in the Big Ten tournament, led by Nick Martinelli's 28 points. This victory marks Northwestern's first tournament win since 2022 and advances them to the quarterfinals against Wisconsin. Despite leading the Big Ten in scoring, Martinelli was named a second-team all-conference player. He has scored 15 or more points in 17 consecutive games, the longest streak for a Northwestern player in 25 years. Minnesota, which has struggled this season, has lost five of its last six games against Northwestern. The Wildcats now hold a 17-15 record and continue their tournament run.