Northwestern Basketball after the Big Ten tournament inflection point: a 74-61 win that deepens Indiana’s spiral

northwestern basketball delivered a 74-61 Big Ten tournament win over Indiana on March 11, 2026 (ET), a result that felt less like a single-night upset and more like a defining checkpoint for both programs. For Northwestern, it was a composed, two-half performance built around timely shot-making and a second-half takeover by Nick Martinelli. For Indiana, it was another familiar ending: early offensive clarity giving way to long, momentum-draining droughts.

What Happens When Northwestern Basketball flips the second-half script?

Indiana’s start carried a sense of intention. The Hoosiers looked crisp offensively early and, for a stretch, managed to keep Martinelli in check. That initial containment had a tactical edge: Indiana head coach Darian DeVries started Sam Alexis and Reed Bailey together for the first time this season, and the pair blitzed Martinelli with double teams designed to force the ball out of his hands.

Yet even while Indiana found scoring early, it could not stabilize the defensive end. Northwestern repeatedly answered, and Jake West played a central role in preventing separation. West, a Philadelphia product, found lanes to the basket and also hit 2-of-3 from deep. His 14 points were pivotal in keeping Northwestern within striking distance as the Wildcats trailed by one at halftime, 37-36.

The efficiency numbers underscored how open the first half felt. Northwestern scored 1. 21 points per possession with a 60 effective field goal percentage. Indiana posted 1. 25 points per possession with a 70 effective field goal percentage. In other words, the game was functioning as a shot-making contest—until the second half turned into a test of creation under pressure.

That is where Northwestern’s defensive control emerged as the inflection. Indiana’s drought arrived immediately after the break rather than late: the Hoosiers made just two field goals over the first 10: 45 of the second half, both from Lamar Wilkerson. Northwestern bottled up Indiana’s half-court offense, forcing late-clock jumpers that did not fall. During that stretch, Northwestern extended its lead to 13, and later pushed the margin as high as 18 before finishing with a 13-point victory.

What If Indiana’s adjustments only accelerate Northwestern’s best options?

Indiana’s initial plan to swarm Martinelli worked only temporarily. As the game wore on, Martinelli found more daylight, scoring nine first-half points on 4-of-8 shooting. Over the final 20 minutes, he turned the game into his own: 19 second-half points, finishing with a game-high 28.

Indiana did get a jolt from Tayton Conerway, who received more run than he did in Indiana’s prior three games. Conerway played 19 minutes and finished with 14 points, his most since the last Northwestern game. His drives provided a needed change of pace, but the margin for error was thin. Conerway also had two out-of-control turnovers in the lane in the second half, mistakes that drew visible frustration from DeVries on the sideline.

The game also leaned into a season-long pain point for Indiana’s defense: perimeter coverage. Indiana again struggled to defend the 3-point line, giving Northwestern good looks even on low volume. Northwestern hit 6-of-14 from deep (42. 9 percent), enough to punish collapses and late rotations without needing to turn the night into a high-volume shooting contest.

Indiana’s final offensive line in the second half captured how quickly the floor tilted. The Hoosiers shot 5-of-20 after halftime, including 1-of-7 from 3-point range, and finished the game barely reaching an even 1. 0 points per possession.

What Comes Next after a 74-61 Big Ten tournament loss?

For Indiana, the loss landed with an air of finality. The season ended in disappointment, with a sense that fan apathy had been creeping in. The Big Ten tournament path was framed as a chance for a last-minute dash toward the NCAA tournament, but the run ended before it could meaningfully begin.

The result also extended a stark trend: Indiana has now lost seven straight to Northwestern. In this particular game, the arc was especially punishing because Indiana showed early capability—then watched the offense stall for long stretches as Northwestern dictated the types of shots Indiana could generate.

Looking ahead, the offseason task is clear in its scale. DeVries is facing what was described as another huge rebuild through the transfer portal. The question is not whether roster construction will be the priority, but whether DeVries and Ryan Carr can reshape Indiana into a better spot by this time next year.

For Northwestern, the win read as a template game: keep contact through the first half, manufacture steady contributions beyond the star, then let Martinelli close with decisive second-half scoring while the defense squeezes the opponent’s options. On a night when early efficiency belonged to both sides, the finish belonged to Northwestern—and it reshaped the end of Indiana’s season in the process.