Northwestern gets past Indiana behind Ryan Langborg's 26 points

Field Level Media|published: Sun 18th February, 17:43 2024

Feb 18, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) reaches for the ball in front of Indiana Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Mgbako (21) during the first half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. credits: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Langborg scored a season-high 26 points and Matthew Nicholson and Nick Martinelli both notched double-doubles to lift visiting Northwestern past Indiana 76-72 on Sunday in Bloomington, Ind.

Northwestern (18-8, 9-6 Big Ten) ended a five-game road losing streak in conference play, overcoming a 35.4 percent shooting effort.

Nicholson had 14 points and 16 rebounds while Martinelli had 13 points and 13 boards.

Northwestern's leading scorer Boo Buie chipped in 14 points but did not register a field goal until there was 8:35 remaining in the game.

Kel'el Ware posted a double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Hoosiers (14-11, 6-8).

Mackenzie Mgbako scored 20 points, Malik Reneau added nine and Trey Galloway had 12 assists.

Indiana, which has lost three of four, shot 50.9 percent. The Hoosiers trailed by 16 with 6:17 to play but cut the lead to five behind an 11-0 run. Northwestern scored 13 of the game's final 27 points to prevail, never allowing the Hoosiers to get closer than three points down the stretch.

The Wildcats went 22-for-28 from the free-throw line compared to 12-for-21 for Indiana.

The Hoosiers challenged the Wildcats multiple times, but Northwestern consistently found answers on the way to its first conference road victory since Jan. 10 at Penn State.

One possession after Ware emphatically swatted a Justin Mullins layup five rows into the stands, Langborg stepped in front of a Hoosiers pass, dribbled down the floor and swished a trey. That pushed the Northwestern lead back to five.

Indiana pulled to within 43-42 on a Reneau layup with 12:52 left, but Martinelli responded with a 3-pointer that set the Wildcats on a 12-3 run that extended their advantage back to double digits.

Big efforts from Langborg and Martinelli boosted Northwestern to a 34-26 halftime lead. The duo combined for 20 points on 7-for-17 shooting, while Martinelli snagged nine rebounds for a career best.

Battling foul trouble, Buie played just eight minutes in the first half, contributing each of his four points from the free-throw line.

The Wildcats earned their fourth straight victory in the series.

—Field Level Media