Northwestern Wildcats Defeat Howard Bison 80-60
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 5:00 PM ET · Welsh-Ryan Arena
Northwestern Wildcats 80, Howard Bison 60, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Howard Bison vs Northwestern Wildcats?
Northwestern Wildcats beat Howard Bison 80-60 at Welsh-Ryan Arena on December 30, 2025.
Who was favored in Howard Bison vs Northwestern Wildcats?
Northwestern Wildcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -3200 (about 97% implied). The favorite won.
The Northwestern Wildcats secured a decisive victory over the Howard Bison, winning 80-60 at the Welsh-Ryan Arena. This game showcased the Wildcats' ability to bounce back after a recent loss, as they entered the matchup with a record of 8-5, while the Bison came in with a slightly better record of 9-6. The Wildcats' performance was particularly noteworthy given their recent form, where they had a mixed record of 5-5 in their last ten games, but had averaged an impressive 82.1 points scored per game during that stretch. In contrast, Howard had been on a strong run, winning five consecutive games leading into this fixture, and averaging 74.6 points while allowing 69.4 points per game.
Northwestern's home record stood at 4-2 prior to the game, while Howard had struggled on the road with a 2-3 record. The Wildcats had previously faced challenges against stronger opponents, but their recent home games had seen them score well, including a notable win against the Valparaiso Beacons just prior to this matchup. Howard's recent form included a victory against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, which added to their momentum.
The betting market, provided by DraftKings, had Northwestern heavily favored with a spread of -19.5 and a money line of -3200, indicating strong expectations for a Wildcats victory. The total for the game was set at 148.5, reflecting anticipated scoring from both teams.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any significant player absences for either team, allowing both sides to field their strongest lineups. The conditions at Welsh-Ryan Arena were conducive to a competitive game, with the home crowd likely providing support for the Wildcats.
As the game progressed, Northwestern maintained control, leveraging their scoring capabilities and defensive strategies to keep Howard at bay. The scoring plays highlighted key contributions from players like Angelo Ciaravino and Jordan Clayton in the second half, who helped extend the lead with free throws and layups. Ultimately, the Wildcats' ability to capitalize on their scoring opportunities while limiting Howard's offensive output was crucial in securing the win.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NU -19.5 | 148.5 o -110 / u -110 | Howard Bison +1400 · Northwestern Wildcats -3200 |
Leaders
- PointsNick Martinelli32Northwestern Wildcats
- AssistsTre Singleton5Northwestern Wildcats
- ReboundsAngelo Ciaravino11Northwestern Wildcats
- PointsTravelle Bryson19Howard Bison
- AssistsCam Gillus7Howard Bison
- ReboundsTravelle Bryson6Howard Bison
Recent form
Northwestern Wildcats
Last 10: 5-5Streak L182.1 scored · 74.3 allowed per game4-2 at home
- L58-61at Butler BulldogsDec 20
- W86-70vs Valparaiso BeaconsDec 17
- W93-53vs Jackson State TigersDec 13
- L82-86vs Ohio State BuckeyesDec 6
- L73-85at Wisconsin BadgersDec 4
- L81-86vs Oklahoma State CowboysNov 28
- W79-77vs South Carolina GamecocksNov 23
- L78-83at Virginia CavaliersNov 21
- W81-79at DePaul Blue DemonsNov 15
- W110-63vs Cleveland State VikingsNov 11
Howard Bison
Last 10: 7-3Streak W574.6 scored · 69.4 allowed per game2-3 away
- W67-66at UNC Wilmington SeahawksDec 20
- W74-66at Drexel DragonsDec 16
- W61-57vs Hampton PiratesDec 13
- W73-69vs North Carolina A&T AggiesDec 10
- W85-69vs Bowie State BulldogsDec 6
- L75-79at Mount St. Mary's MountaineersNov 29
- W115-61vs St. Mary's (MD) SeahawksNov 26
- L56-93at Duke Blue DevilsNov 23
- W80-70vs Niagara Purple EaglesNov 22
- L60-64at Stetson HattersNov 20
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard | 24-11 | - | 11-3 |
| Morgan State | 14-16 | 1 | 10-4 |
| Norfolk State | 15-17 | 3 | 8-6 |
| North Carolina Central | 14-18 | 3 | 8-6 |
| South Carolina State | 10-22 | 4 | 7-7 |
| Maryland Eastern Shore | 9-23 | 6 | 5-9 |
| Coppin State | 7-24 | 6 | 5-9 |
| Delaware State | 8-23 | 9 | 2-12 |
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Howard Bison | Northwestern Wildcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-55 | 26-56 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 8-22 | 6-17 |
| Three-point % | 36 | 35 |
| Free throws | 8-13 | 22-34 |
| Free throw % | 62 | 65 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 23 |
| Assists | 15 | 21 |
| Steals | 4 | 7 |
| Blocks | 2 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 5 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 6 | 21 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 21 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 36 |
| Fouls | 22 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 20 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 11 | 84 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half35-39Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half35-41Tre Singleton makes driving layup (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half37-41Bryce Harris makes driving layup
- 2nd Half37-42Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-42Cam Gillus makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half40-44Tre Singleton makes driving layup (Max Green assists)
- 2nd Half42-44Ose Okojie makes driving layup (Cam Gillus assists)
- 2nd Half42-46Tyler Kropp makes layup (Tre Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half42-47Tre Singleton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-49Tre Singleton makes layup
- 2nd Half42-50Tre Singleton makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half43-50Travelle Bryson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-50Travelle Bryson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-52Tre Singleton makes layup (Nick Martinelli assists)
- 2nd Half47-52Isaiah Brown makes 24-foot three point jumper (Alex Cotton assists)
- 2nd Half47-54Nick Martinelli makes layup (Tre Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half49-54Travelle Bryson makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half49-56Nick Martinelli makes driving layup (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half49-57Angelo Ciaravino makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-60Jordan Clayton makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half49-61Tre Singleton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-62Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-62Travelle Bryson makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half51-64Jake West makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-66Nick Martinelli makes driving layup (Tre Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half54-66Cam Gillus makes 23-foot three point jumper (Travelle Bryson assists)
- 2nd Half54-67Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-68Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-69Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-69Travelle Bryson makes 10-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half56-71Nick Martinelli makes layup (Tre Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half58-71BJ Powell makes driving layup (Cam Gillus assists)
- 2nd Half58-73Angelo Ciaravino makes layup (Tre Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half58-74Angelo Ciaravino makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-75Jordan Clayton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-76Jordan Clayton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-76Ose Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-76Ose Okojie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-78Nick Martinelli makes 10-foot floating jump shot (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half60-80Jake West makes driving layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Northwestern Wildcats, below favours Howard Bison.
Venue
- Welsh-Ryan ArenaEvanston, IL
- Attendance4992
- OfficialsD.J. Carstensen, Paul Szelc, Nate Harris
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