Nick Martinelli led the way with 27 points and 13 rebounds and his basket with 2.6 seconds left helped Northwestern hold off USC 77-75 at Welsh-Ryan Arena and snap a three-game losing skid. 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.
Out of a timeout, USC 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.
Clark Slajchert converted a four-point play on a straight-away three-pointer and a free throw with 29 seconds left to tie it at 75-all. With 1:54 left and the Trojans (13-9, 5-6) trailing 72-67, Slajchert also drew a foul on Blake Smith from beyond the arc and went 1-for-3 from the foul line.
Northwestern led 33-31 and stretched the margin to 15 points, 59-44, over the first 10 minutes of the second half before USC fought its way back but never took the lead.
Martinelli recorded a career-high 10 offensive rebounds and reserve Justin Mullins scored 14 points for Northwestern.
Slajchert scored 24 points, shooting 9 for 11, Wesley Yates III scored 15 points and Chibuzo Agbo 14 for USC
USC plays at No. 7 Purdue on Friday. Northwestern plays at Washington on Saturday.