Northwestern Wildcats Dominate Penn State Nittany Lions 94-73
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Welsh-Ryan Arena
Northwestern Wildcats 94, Penn State Nittany Lions 73, 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 Penn State Nittany Lions vs Northwestern Wildcats?
Northwestern Wildcats beat Penn State Nittany Lions 94-73 at Welsh-Ryan Arena on January 29, 2026.
Who was favored in Penn State Nittany Lions vs Northwestern Wildcats?
Northwestern Wildcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -355 (about 78% implied). The favorite won.
The Northwestern Wildcats delivered a commanding performance against the Penn State Nittany Lions, securing a 94-73 victory at Welsh-Ryan Arena. This win is particularly significant for Northwestern, as it marks a much-needed turnaround after a challenging stretch of games. With a home record of 10-11 and an away record of 9-12, both teams have faced difficulties this season, but Northwestern's strong showing at home was evident in this matchup.
In their last ten games, the Wildcats had a record of 3-7, entering the contest on a one-game losing streak. They averaged 70.7 points scored while allowing 72.3 points per game during this stretch. Their recent form included a mix of results, with notable games including a loss to the UCLA Bruins (64-71) and a win against the USC Trojans (74-68). At home, they had a record of 2-3 in their last five games, averaging 67.8 points scored and 74.4 points allowed.
On the other hand, the Nittany Lions have struggled significantly, with a record of 1-9 in their last ten games and currently on a seven-game losing streak. Their scoring average during this period was 71.2 points, while they allowed an alarming 81.2 points per game. Their last five games included a loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes (78-84) and a defeat against the Wisconsin Badgers (71-98). They have been particularly poor on the road, with an away record of 0-3 in their last five games, averaging 73.4 points scored and 88.4 points allowed.
In terms of previous meetings, this matchup was the second of the season between these two teams. In their first encounter on January 3, 2025, Northwestern lost to Penn State with a score of 80-84. This defeat added to the pressure for the Wildcats to perform well in this rematch, and they certainly rose to the occasion.
Injuries were not highlighted in the block, indicating that both teams were likely at full strength for this contest. The betting market prior to the game, as provided by DraftKings, had Northwestern favored by 7.5 points, with a total set at 148.5. The odds reflected the Wildcats' home advantage and their need to bounce back from previous losses.
The conditions at Welsh-Ryan Arena were likely favorable for the home team, contributing to their strong performance. As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a variety of scoring plays that showcased Northwestern's offensive prowess. Key moments included a 27-foot three-point step back jumpshot by Jake West and a 24-foot three-point jumper by Angelo Ciaravino, both of which helped to extend the Wildcats' lead.
Overall, the Wildcats' victory over the Nittany Lions not only improved their record but also provided a much-needed boost in confidence as they look to build on this performance in their upcoming games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NU -7.5 | 148.5 o -105 / u -115 | Penn State Nittany Lions +280 · Northwestern Wildcats -355 |
Leaders
- PointsNick Martinelli34Northwestern Wildcats
- AssistsJake West13Northwestern Wildcats
- ReboundsTre Singleton18Northwestern Wildcats
- PointsKayden Mingo15Penn State Nittany Lions
- AssistsMelih Tunca5Penn State Nittany Lions
- ReboundsIvan Juric6Penn State Nittany Lions
Recent form
Northwestern Wildcats
Last 10: 3-7Streak L170.7 scored · 72.3 allowed per game2-3 at home
- L64-71at UCLA BruinsJan 24
- W74-68at USC TrojansJan 22
- L58-77vs Nebraska CornhuskersJan 17
- 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
Penn State Nittany Lions
Last 10: 1-9Streak L771.2 scored · 81.2 allowed per game0-3 away
- L78-84at Ohio State BuckeyesJan 27
- L71-98vs Wisconsin BadgersJan 23
- L73-96at Maryland TerrapinsJan 18
- L60-71vs UCLA BruinsJan 15
- L85-93at Purdue BoilermakersJan 10
- L72-74vs Michigan WolverinesJan 7
- L65-73vs Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 4
- W90-67vs North Carolina Central EaglesDec 29
- L46-80vs Pittsburgh PanthersDec 21
- L72-76vs Michigan State SpartansDec 13
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 | Penn State Nittany Lions | Northwestern Wildcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-51 | 38-63 |
| Field goal % | 49 | 60 |
| Three-pointers | 6-18 | 12-22 |
| Three-point % | 33 | 55 |
| Free throws | 17-20 | 6-9 |
| Free throw % | 85 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 21 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 3 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 25 |
| Assists | 19 | 30 |
| Steals | 5 | 5 |
| Blocks | 1 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 19 |
| Fast-break points | 6 | 16 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 42 |
| Fouls | 14 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 1 | 21 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 6 | 86 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-49Kayden Mingo makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-51Angelo Ciaravino makes layup (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half44-53Tre Singleton makes layup (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half44-55Angelo Ciaravino makes 3-foot dunk (Tre Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half44-58Nick Martinelli makes 24-foot three point jumper (Angelo Ciaravino assists)
- 2nd Half47-58Ivan Juric makes 24-foot three point jumper (Melih Tunca assists)
- 2nd Half47-60Nick Martinelli makes 15-foot jumper (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half49-60Josh Reed makes layup (Dominick Stewart assists)
- 2nd Half51-60Josh Reed makes driving layup (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half53-60Kayden Mingo makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-60Ivan Juric makes 0-foot dunk (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half55-62Tre Singleton makes layup (Jordan Clayton assists)
- 2nd Half57-62Kayden Mingo makes layup (Ivan Juric assists)
- 2nd Half57-65Angelo Ciaravino makes 24-foot three point jumper (Nick Martinelli assists)
- 2nd Half57-67Angelo Ciaravino makes 1-foot dunk (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half59-67Kayden Mingo makes layup (Melih Tunca assists)
- 2nd Half60-67Kayden Mingo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-67Kayden Mingo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-69Nick Martinelli makes layup (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half61-70Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half61-72Tre Singleton makes layup (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half61-73Tre Singleton makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half61-75Nick Martinelli makes layup (Jordan Clayton assists)
- 2nd Half61-76Tre Singleton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-77Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-78Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-78Freddie Dilione V makes layup
- 2nd Half63-79Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-81Nick Martinelli makes 15-foot jumper (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half66-81Dominick Stewart makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half66-84Jordan Clayton makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half67-84Josh Reed makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-84Josh Reed makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-84Freddie Dilione V makes driving layup
- 2nd Half70-86Angelo Ciaravino makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Jake West assists)
- 2nd Half70-88Jake West makes driving layup
- 2nd Half72-88Mason Blackwood makes layup (Freddie Dilione V assists)
- 2nd Half73-88Mason Blackwood makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half73-91Jake West makes 27-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half73-94Angelo Ciaravino makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jake West assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Northwestern Wildcats, below favours Penn State Nittany Lions.
Venue
- Welsh-Ryan ArenaEvanston, IL
- Attendance5143
- OfficialsRon Groover, James Breeding, Kelly Pfeifer
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