Martinelli split a double team near the baseline and softly laid it in to give Northwestern the lead in the closing seconds.

However, it was all for naught. USC's defense allowed NU's Nick Martinelli to hit a go-ahead jumper with 2.4 seconds remaining. The Trojans subsequently turned the ball over on their final offensive possession, thus ending the game and handing them a 77-75 loss.

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With 35 seconds remaining and Northwestern clinging to a 74-71 lead, graduate student center Matthew Nicholson was fouled on his way to the basket. Had he converted both free throws, the game would have been all but decided.

USC and Northwestern meet on Friday night! Our College Basketball odds series has our USC-Northwestern prediction, odds, and pick.

Nick Martinelli scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and his basket with 2.6 seconds left helped Northwestern men’s basketball hold off USC 77-75 on Tuesday in Evanston.