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INDIANAPOLIS — Nick Martinelli scored 28 points to help No. 13 seed Northwestern beat No. 12 seed Minnesota 72-64 to begin the Big Ten Tournament. Northwestern (17-15) earned its first conference tournament win since 2022 for a chance to play No. 5 Wisconsin in the second round. The Wildcats lost to No. 17 Wisconsin 75-69 on Feb. 1. Five Northwestern players scored during a 12-3 run to begin the second half to go ahead by double digits for the first time in the game. The Wildcats stayed ahead by at least nine points until Mike Mitchell Jr. scored five straight points to get Minnesota within 67-60 with 45 seconds remaining. Martinelli and Matthew Nicholson each went 1 of 2 at the stripe down the stretch, and K.J. Windham went 3 of 4.
