EVANSTON, Ill. (Interstat) — Northwestern cruised to a 93-53 victory over Jackson State in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats led 41-24 at halftime and outscored the Tigers 52-29 in the second half. Nick Martinelli led Northwestern with 22 points in 21 minutes. Daeshun Ruffin scored 20 points for Jackson State. Northwestern shot 50% from the field and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 30 of 39 attempts. Jackson State struggled offensively, shooting 28.6% overall. The Wildcats improved to 6-4, while the Tigers fell to 1-9. Attendance was 5,007.

EVANSTON, Ill. (Interstat) — Northwestern turned a dominant first-half defensive performance into a cascade of transition opportunities and cruised to a 93-53 victory over Jackson State in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. A crowd of 5,007 watched the Wildcats improve to 6-4, while the Tigers fell to 1-9. The most important part of the game was Northwestern’s immediate and overwhelming defensive pressure, which created a decisive advantage in points off turnovers and fastbreak points. The Wildcats forced 13 Jackson State turnovers, converting them into 21 points, while limiting their own miscues to 10. More critically, Northwestern’s defense fueled its transition game, outscoring Jackson State 19-2 on fastbreak points, often turning Tiger misses into easy baskets at the other end. This defensive-to-offensive surge allowed Northwestern to build a 41-24 halftime lead that was never challenged. Nick Martinelli, a 6-foot-7 junior from Glenview, Illinois, led all scorers with 22 points on efficient 8-of-10 shooting from the field, adding five rebounds in just 21 minutes. His performance paced a balanced Northwestern attack that saw five players score at least eight points. Arrinten Page, a 6-11 sophomore from Atlanta, contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Angelo Ciaravino added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. For Jackson State, guard Daeshun Ruffin, listed at 5-foot-10 from Jackson, Mississippi, provided a bright spot with a game-high 20 points. Dorian McMillian added nine points and eight rebounds. Northwestern’s offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 93 points on 75 possessions for a rating of 124.8, while Jackson State managed just 53 points on 72 possessions, a rating of 73.7. The Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field, making 28 of 56 attempts, and capitalized at the free-throw line, hitting 30 of 39. Jackson State struggled offensively, shooting 28.6 percent overall on 16-of-56 shooting. The Wildcats also dominated inside, outscoring the Tigers 42-16 in the paint and outrebounding them 45-34. Northwestern established control early, opening the game on a 10-2 run. While Jackson State’s Ruffin kept the Tigers within striking distance for a brief period, the Wildcats’ relentless defense and ability to run off misses steadily expanded the margin. A 12-2 run midway through the first half, capped by a Jordan Clayton steal and a Nick Martinelli layup, pushed the lead to 21-8, and Northwestern led by at least 13 points for the remainder of the contest. The second half saw no letup, as the Wildcats opened with a quick 5-0 spurt and continued to extend the advantage, leading by as many as 40 points in the final minutes. Northwestern entered the game as a heavy favorite, with betting markets installing the Wildcats as 25.5-point favorites. The combined score of 146 fell under the pregame over/under line of 143.5. The game was part of a challenging early-season schedule for Jackson State, which has faced multiple high-major opponents on the road. Northwestern was looking to rebound from close losses to Ohio State and Wisconsin in its previous two games. Northwestern next hosts Valparaiso on Tuesday. Jackson State travels to face Hampton on Thursday in a neutral-site game in College Park, Georgia.

Preview: Jackson State Tigers at Northwestern Wildcats EVANSTON, Ill. (Interstat) — The Northwestern Wildcats look to steady themselves after a narrow conference loss when they host the struggling Jackson State Tigers in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern (5-4) is coming off a hard-fought 86-82 home loss to Ohio State on Dec. 6, a game in which forward Nick Martinelli scored a career-high 32 points. Martinelli has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 24.3 points over his last three games. The Wildcats have faced a challenging early schedule, with their four losses coming by an average of just 5.5 points. “We’ve been in every game, but we have to find a way to finish,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. “This is an opportunity to build some momentum before the Big Ten grind resumes.” Jackson State (1-8) arrives after a difficult 80-38 road loss at Houston on Wednesday. The Tigers have faced a brutal opening slate, with all eight losses coming on the road against high-major opponents or strong mid-majors. Their lone win was a 51-45 victory at Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 28. Guard Jayme Mitchell has been a bright spot for the Tigers, leading the team in scoring in four of the last six games. He poured in 24 points in a loss at Auburn on Nov. 19 and is averaging 13.4 points per game during that stretch. “We’ve been tested in some very tough environments,” Jackson State coach Mo Williams said. “The focus now is on cleaning up our execution and competing for a full 40 minutes.” Northwestern holds a distinct size and experience advantage and will look to exploit a Jackson State defense that has allowed 88.4 points per game during its current 1-7 skid. The Wildcats’ offense, orchestrated by Martinelli and supported by Angelo Ciaravino and Arrinten Page, will be a significant challenge for the Tigers. For Jackson State, limiting turnovers and finding consistent scoring outside of Mitchell will be critical to keeping pace. The Tigers hope their arduous early schedule has prepared them for a hostile Big Ten environment. This is the first meeting between the programs. Northwestern hosts Valparaiso on Dec. 16. Jackson State travels to a neutral-site game against Hampton on Dec. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST Saturday.