Wildcats Outlast Terps in Shootout

Northwestern secured a 78-74 victory over Maryland on Wednesday, despite a late surge from the Terps. The game was largely defined by a duel between Northwestern's Nick Martinelli and Maryland's Andre Mills. Martinelli, averaging 22.1 points per game, finished with 29 points, orchestrating his team's offense effectively. He was particularly adept at finding soft spots and converting mid-range jumpers and floaters.

Mills, meanwhile, delivered a career-high 39 points for Maryland. He was explosive on offense, hitting a season-high six three-pointers and proving effective driving to the basket. However, Northwestern's overall shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, proved to be a crucial factor. Jordan Clayton notably went 6-of-7 from three-point range, an anomaly against a team that ranked last in the conference in three-point percentage.

Maryland attempted a comeback in the final four minutes, narrowing an 11-point deficit. However, their offensive focus on Mills in the closing moments was deemed too little, too late by observers. Northwestern had struggled to close out previous games, but managed to hold off Maryland's late charge to secure the win at home.