Nebraska Cornhuskers Defeat Northwestern Wildcats 77-58
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Welsh-Ryan Arena
Nebraska Cornhuskers 77, Northwestern Wildcats 58, 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 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Northwestern Wildcats?
Nebraska Cornhuskers beat Northwestern Wildcats 77-58 at Welsh-Ryan Arena on January 17, 2026.
Who was favored in Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Northwestern Wildcats?
Nebraska Cornhuskers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -205 (about 67% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive victory, the Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 77-58 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. This matchup was notable as Nebraska maintained its perfect season, improving its record to 18-0, while Northwestern fell to 8-10. Nebraska's performance showcased their dominance, particularly in the second half, where they outscored Northwestern significantly.
Entering the game, Nebraska was riding a ten-game winning streak, having scored an average of 78.3 points while allowing only 62.0 points over their last ten games. Their recent form included a commanding 90-55 win against the Oregon Ducks just three days prior. In contrast, Northwestern had struggled, losing four consecutive games leading into this matchup, averaging 73.4 points scored and 75.2 points allowed in their last five games.
At home, Northwestern had a record of 3-3, while they were still seeking their first away victory, with an overall away record of 0-4. Nebraska, on the other hand, had been formidable both at home and on the road, boasting a 7-0 home record and a 3-0 away record. This disparity in performance added to the intrigue of the matchup.
The two teams had met previously in the 2025 season, where Nebraska also emerged victorious with a score of 68-64. This history of success against Northwestern likely contributed to Nebraska's confidence going into this game.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but any absence of key players could have influenced the outcome. However, the focus remained on the performance of the players who took the court.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Nebraska favored by 4.5 points, with a total set at 149.5. The odds reflected the expectation of a competitive game, but Nebraska's performance clearly exceeded those expectations.
Conditions during the game were not detailed in the block, but the atmosphere at Welsh-Ryan Arena was likely electric, given the stakes of the matchup and the home crowd's support for Northwestern.
As the game unfolded, key moments included Pryce Sandfort's impressive three-point jumper and a series of free throws that helped Nebraska maintain their lead. The Cornhuskers' scoring plays highlighted their offensive efficiency, while Northwestern struggled to keep pace. The final score of 77-58 underscored Nebraska's dominance, with the Wildcats unable to mount a comeback despite moments of scoring from players like Tre Singleton and Jayden Reid.
Overall, this game showcased Nebraska's continued excellence in the NCAAB landscape, while Northwestern will need to regroup and address their recent struggles as they move forward in the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NEB -4.5 | 149.5 o -105 / u -115 | Nebraska Cornhuskers -205 · Northwestern Wildcats +170 |
Leaders
- PointsNick Martinelli22Northwestern Wildcats
- AssistsJayden Reid5Northwestern Wildcats
- ReboundsNick Martinelli10Northwestern Wildcats
- PointsPryce Sandfort22Nebraska Cornhuskers
- AssistsSam Hoiberg4Nebraska Cornhuskers
- ReboundsSam Hoiberg7Nebraska Cornhuskers
Recent form
Northwestern Wildcats
Last 10: 3-7Streak L475.9 scored · 73.1 allowed per game3-3 at home
- L68-79vs Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 15
- L75-77at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsJan 11
- L66-76at Michigan State SpartansJan 8
- L78-84vs Minnesota Golden GophersJan 3
- W80-60vs Howard BisonDec 30
- 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
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last 10: 10-0Streak W1078.3 scored · 62 allowed per game3-0 away
- W90-55vs Oregon DucksJan 14
- W83-77at Indiana HoosiersJan 10
- W72-69at Ohio State BuckeyesJan 5
- W58-56vs Michigan State SpartansJan 3
- W86-55vs New Hampshire WildcatsDec 31
- W78-55vs North Dakota Fighting HawksDec 22
- W83-80at Illinois Fighting IlliniDec 13
- W90-60vs Wisconsin BadgersDec 11
- W71-50vs Creighton BluejaysDec 7
- W72-63vs South Carolina Upstate SpartansNov 29
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Northwestern Wildcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-53 | 23-54 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 11-26 | 5-14 |
| Three-point % | 42 | 36 |
| Free throws | 12-15 | 7-10 |
| Free throw % | 80 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 21 |
| Assists | 18 | 15 |
| Steals | 7 | 1 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 5 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 3 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 24 |
| Fouls | 12 | 12 |
| Largest lead | 19 | 3 |
| Lead changes | 7 | 7 |
| Time in front | 87 | 8 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half34-28Tre Singleton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half34-29Tre Singleton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half34-32Jake West makes 23-foot three point jumper (Arrinten Page assists)
- 2nd Half36-32Rienk Mast makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half38-32Braden Frager makes driving layup
- 2nd Half41-32Sam Hoiberg makes 23-foot three point jumper (Rienk Mast assists)
- 2nd Half41-34Tre Singleton makes layup
- 2nd Half42-34Rienk Mast makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-34Rienk Mast makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-36Angelo Ciaravino makes layup (Nick Martinelli assists)
- 2nd Half46-36Pryce Sandfort makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jamarques Lawrence assists)
- 2nd Half46-38Nick Martinelli makes driving layup
- 2nd Half46-40Max Green makes layup (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half46-41Max Green makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half47-41Sam Hoiberg makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-41Sam Hoiberg makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-41Pryce Sandfort makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half52-41Cale Jacobsen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-44Max Green makes 26-foot three point jumper (Angelo Ciaravino assists)
- 2nd Half53-44Sam Hoiberg makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-44Braden Frager makes 25-foot three point jumper (Cale Jacobsen assists)
- 2nd Half58-44Sam Hoiberg makes layup (Berke Buyuktuncel assists)
- 2nd Half59-44Braden Frager makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-44Braden Frager makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-44Pryce Sandfort makes 23-foot three pointer (Cale Jacobsen assists)
- 2nd Half63-47Jayden Reid makes 25-foot three point jumper (Nick Martinelli assists)
- 2nd Half63-49Nick Martinelli makes 13-foot pullup jump shot (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half66-49Braden Frager makes 23-foot three point jumper (Berke Buyuktuncel assists)
- 2nd Half66-51Nick Martinelli makes 10-foot turnaround jump shot (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half68-51Braden Frager makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half70-51Berke Buyuktuncel makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half70-53Tre Singleton makes 13-foot pullup jump shot (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half70-54Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-54Pryce Sandfort makes 25-foot three point jumper (Cale Jacobsen assists)
- 2nd Half73-55Jayden Reid makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half73-56Jayden Reid makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half73-58Tre Singleton makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half75-58Sam Hoiberg makes driving layup
- 2nd Half76-58Pryce Sandfort makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-58Pryce Sandfort makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Northwestern Wildcats, below favours Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Venue
- Welsh-Ryan ArenaEvanston, IL
- Attendance5783
- OfficialsPaul Szelc, Amy Bonner, Steve McJunkins
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
Picks for NCAAB
NCAAB rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Nebraska Defeats Northwestern 68-49 at HomeFeb 14, 2026
- Nebraska Cornhuskers Edge Northwestern Wildcats 28-21Oct 25, 2025