Northwestern Edges Iowa 68-57 in Big Ten Showdown

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — K.J. Windham scored 20 points and led Northwestern to a 68-57 victory over Iowa Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena, breaking a four-way tie for 13th place in the Big Ten Conference.

The win boosts Northwestern’s record to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play, moving them ahead of Iowa (15-14, 6-12) along with Minnesota and USC in the standings. This crucial matchup has implications for the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, where the top 15 teams qualify.

After a tight first half that ended with Northwestern leading by four points, the Wildcats expanded their lead in the second half, significantly fueled by Windham’s three-point shooting. The Hawkeyes battled hard, narrowing a deficit to just one point early in the second half, but Windham hit consecutive 3-pointers that helped Northwestern regain control of the game.

“K.J. was phenomenal tonight,” Northwestern Coach Chris Collins said. “He gives us a different look and allows us to rotate players without losing momentum, especially on defense.”

Despite a rocky start, Northwestern took advantage of rebounds and free throws, earning six offensive rebounds that translated to 10 second-chance points in the first half. Iowa struggled with their shooting, finishing the game at 36.2% from the field.

Windham’s performance was a highlight, given that he had averaged less than 15 minutes per game this season before Friday. His scoring spurt made him the third Northwestern freshman to post multiple 20-point games in conference play since 2006.

Junior forward Nick Martinelli contributed with 16 points, maintaining his streak of scoring in double digits for 22 consecutive games. He played a pivotal role in the second half, making back-to-back baskets to solidify the Wildcats’ lead. “Nick always finds a way to score when it counts,” Collins noted.

On the other hand, Iowa’s junior center contributed 10 points and led the team in rebounds with nine. The team faced challenges, particularly after graduate center Matthew Nicholson exited in the second half after a facial injury, which limited their scoring options. Nicholson had been instrumental in the defensive department prior to his departure.

“Every game is critical for us right now. We needed this win to keep our tournament hopes alive,” Windham stated after the game. “We showed that we can compete, and we need to keep that momentum going.”

Northwestern will face UCLA on Monday before concluding the regular season on Saturday against No. 16 Maryland. Meanwhile, Iowa continues its season against No. 8 Michigan State on Thursday and finishes its regular season against Nebraska on March 9.