Northwestern Wildcats Upset Indiana Hoosiers 72-68
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Northwestern Wildcats 72, Indiana Hoosiers 68, 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 Northwestern Wildcats vs Indiana Hoosiers?
Northwestern Wildcats beat Indiana Hoosiers 72-68 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on February 24, 2026.
Who was favored in Northwestern Wildcats vs Indiana Hoosiers?
Indiana Hoosiers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -470 (about 82% implied). The underdog won.
In a surprising turn of events, the Northwestern Wildcats secured a 72-68 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on February 25, 2026. This result marks a significant achievement for Northwestern, who had lost their previous meeting against Indiana earlier in the season and had been struggling throughout the year with a record of 12-16 prior to this game. The Wildcats' win also snapped a two-game losing streak, showcasing their resilience as they aim to finish the season strong.
The Hoosiers entered the matchup with a record of 17-11 and had been experiencing mixed results in their recent games, going 5-5 over their last ten outings. However, they were on a two-game losing streak, having dropped games to Purdue and Illinois, which may have contributed to the pressure they faced in this contest. Indiana had averaged 74.1 points scored and allowed 77.9 points in their last ten games, indicating a struggle on the defensive end that Northwestern exploited effectively.
Northwestern, on the other hand, had a record of 3-7 in their last ten games before this matchup, but they were riding the momentum of a recent win against Maryland. Their scoring average of 66.8 points and an average of 75.4 points allowed suggested that they were also facing challenges, but their recent victory may have provided a much-needed boost in confidence.
The game was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Key moments included Tayton Conerway's driving layup, which put Northwestern ahead 67-65, and a series of free throws by Jake West that extended their lead to 71-68. The Hoosiers struggled to respond in the closing moments, ultimately unable to overcome the deficit.
In terms of home and away performance, Indiana had a home record of 3-1 in their last four games, while Northwestern had struggled on the road with a 1-4 record. This context made the Wildcats' victory even more impressive, as they managed to secure a win in a hostile environment.
The injury picture was not detailed in the provided information, but any absence of key players could have influenced the outcome of the game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Indiana favored by 9.5 points, with a total set at 145.5. This indicates that the expectation was for Indiana to win comfortably, but Northwestern's performance defied those odds.
As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a showcase of competitive basketball, with both teams demonstrating their strengths and weaknesses. The atmosphere in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall was likely electric, given the stakes for both teams. The Wildcats' ability to execute down the stretch, particularly at the free-throw line, proved decisive in their upset victory.
Overall, this game serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of college basketball, where any team can rise to the occasion and deliver a stunning performance, regardless of prior records or expectations.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | IU -9.5 | 145.5 o -108 / u -112 | Northwestern Wildcats +360 · Indiana Hoosiers -470 |
Leaders
- PointsLamar Wilkerson18Indiana Hoosiers
- AssistsConor Enright5Indiana Hoosiers
- ReboundsLamar Wilkerson5Indiana Hoosiers
- PointsNick Martinelli28Northwestern Wildcats
- AssistsArrinten Page4Northwestern Wildcats
- ReboundsTre Singleton8Northwestern Wildcats
Recent form
Indiana Hoosiers
Last 10: 5-5Streak L274.1 scored · 77.9 allowed per game3-1 at home
- L64-93at Purdue BoilermakersFeb 21
- L51-71at Illinois Fighting IlliniFeb 15
- W92-74vs Oregon DucksFeb 10
- W78-77vs Wisconsin BadgersFeb 7
- L75-81at USC TrojansFeb 4
- W98-97at UCLA BruinsJan 31
- W72-67vs Purdue BoilermakersJan 28
- W82-59at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsJan 23
- L72-86at Michigan WolverinesJan 21
- L57-74vs Iowa HawkeyesJan 17
Northwestern Wildcats
Last 10: 3-7Streak W166.8 scored · 75.4 allowed per game1-4 away
- W78-74vs Maryland TerrapinsFeb 19
- L49-68at Nebraska CornhuskersFeb 14
- L75-87vs Michigan WolverinesFeb 12
- L70-76at Iowa HawkeyesFeb 8
- L44-84at Illinois Fighting IlliniFeb 5
- L62-76vs Washington HuskiesFeb 1
- W94-73vs Penn State Nittany LionsJan 30
- L64-71at UCLA BruinsJan 24
- W74-68at USC TrojansJan 22
- L58-77vs Nebraska CornhuskersJan 17
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 | Northwestern Wildcats | Indiana Hoosiers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-54 | 23-50 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 6-13 | 10-28 |
| Three-point % | 46 | 36 |
| Free throws | 14-18 | 12-14 |
| Free throw % | 78 | 86 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 23 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 18 |
| Assists | 15 | 18 |
| Steals | 4 | 3 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 0 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 24 |
| Fouls | 13 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 13 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 9 | 87 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half33-42Tre Singleton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half33-44Sam Alexis makes 4-foot turnaround jump shot (Conor Enright assists)
- 2nd Half35-44Nick Martinelli makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half37-44Nick Martinelli makes driving layup (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half39-44Nick Martinelli makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half40-44Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-44Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-47Tucker DeVries makes 22-foot three point jumper (Lamar Wilkerson assists)
- 2nd Half41-50Tayton Conerway makes 24-foot three point jumper (Lamar Wilkerson assists)
- 2nd Half43-50Jake West makes driving layup (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half43-52Tayton Conerway makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-52Nick Martinelli makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half48-52Jake West makes 27-foot three point jumper (Tre Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half48-54Sam Alexis makes layup
- 2nd Half48-56Tucker DeVries makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half49-56Arrinten Page makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-56Arrinten Page makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-56Angelo Ciaravino makes driving layup (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half52-57Tucker DeVries makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half52-58Tucker DeVries makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half52-59Tucker DeVries makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half54-59Nick Martinelli makes 15-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half55-59Angelo Ciaravino makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-59Arrinten Page makes 24-foot three point jumper (Nick Martinelli assists)
- 2nd Half60-59Nick Martinelli makes 15-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half60-60Lamar Wilkerson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-61Lamar Wilkerson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-61Nick Martinelli makes 22-foot three point jumper (Arrinten Page assists)
- 2nd Half65-61Nick Martinelli makes 16-foot jumper (Arrinten Page assists)
- 2nd Half65-62Lamar Wilkerson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-63Lamar Wilkerson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-63Nick Martinelli makes 10-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half67-65Tayton Conerway makes driving layup (Sam Alexis assists)
- 2nd Half67-66Sam Alexis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-66Jake West makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-66Jake West makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-68Tayton Conerway makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half70-68Jake West makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-68Jake West makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-68Arrinten Page makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Indiana Hoosiers, below favours Northwestern Wildcats.
Venue
- Simon Skjodt Assembly HallBloomington, IN
- Attendance17222
- OfficialsTim Comer, Bart Lenox, Kelly Pfeifer
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