NCAAB · Final

Purdue Edges Northwestern in Close Contest

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Welsh-Ryan Arena

Purdue Boilermakers 70, Northwestern Wildcats 66, 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 Purdue Boilermakers vs Northwestern Wildcats?

Purdue Boilermakers beat Northwestern Wildcats 70-66 at Welsh-Ryan Arena on March 4, 2026.

Who was favored in Purdue Boilermakers vs Northwestern Wildcats?

Purdue Boilermakers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -520 (about 84% implied). The favorite won.

In a tightly contested game at Welsh-Ryan Arena, the Purdue Boilermakers secured a narrow victory over the Northwestern Wildcats, finishing with a score of 70 to 66. This matchup was noteworthy not only for the close scoreline but also for the implications it held for both teams as they approach the end of the season. Purdue, with a strong away record of 23-7, aimed to bounce back after suffering two consecutive losses, while Northwestern, at 13-17, sought to build on a three-game winning streak.

Northwestern entered the game with a record of 4-6 over their last ten games, showcasing a recent resurgence with three straight wins. Their scoring average during this stretch was 67.1 points per game, while they allowed an average of 73.9 points. The Wildcats' last five games reflected a similar trend, with an average score of 67.4 points scored and 71.8 points allowed. Their home record stood at 3-2 in the last five games, indicating a slight advantage when playing in front of their fans.

On the other hand, Purdue's recent form was less consistent, posting a record of 5-5 in their last ten games. They averaged 78.9 points scored and allowed 73.4 points during this period. Despite this inconsistency, Purdue's away record of 3-2 in their last five games suggested they were still a formidable opponent on the road.

The history between these two teams added another layer of intrigue to the matchup. In their previous encounter on January 5, 2025, Purdue had defeated Northwestern decisively with a score of 79-61. This game marked the only other meeting between the two teams in recent seasons, and Northwestern aimed to turn the tables this time around.

In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the absence of key players can often impact the dynamics of such close games. As both teams took the court, the stakes were high, and the players were keenly aware of the importance of this matchup for their respective seasons.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Purdue favored by 12.5 points, with a total set at 145.5. This spread indicated that the market expected Purdue to win comfortably, which added pressure on Northwestern to perform well at home. The moneyline odds reflected Purdue's status as the favorite at -520, while Northwestern was listed at +390.

The game unfolded with a competitive spirit, and the conditions were conducive to an exciting contest. Fans at Welsh-Ryan Arena witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the game. Key moments included a crucial dunk by Arrinten Page that brought the score to 62-63 in favor of Northwestern, followed by a series of free throws from Braden Smith that ultimately helped Purdue regain the lead.

As the game progressed, Jordan Clayton hit a vital three-pointer to give Northwestern a brief advantage at 66-65, but Purdue responded with a three-pointer from C.J. Cox and two more free throws from Smith to seal the victory. The final score reflected the tight nature of the contest, with both teams demonstrating their strengths and weaknesses.

In summary, the matchup between Purdue and Northwestern was a compelling encounter that showcased the competitive nature of college basketball. Purdue's ability to withstand pressure and secure the win on the road highlighted their resilience, while Northwestern's effort demonstrated their potential to compete against top-tier teams. As the season continues, both teams will look to build on this game, with Purdue aiming to regain momentum and Northwestern seeking to capitalize on their recent form.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	PUR -12.5	145.5 o -110 / u -110	Purdue Boilermakers -520 · Northwestern Wildcats +390

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsNick Martinelli28Northwestern Wildcats
AssistsJayden Reid4Northwestern Wildcats
ReboundsArrinten Page3Northwestern Wildcats
PointsC.J. Cox27Purdue Boilermakers
AssistsBraden Smith9Purdue Boilermakers
ReboundsTrey Kaufman-Renn10Purdue Boilermakers

Recent form

Northwestern Wildcats

Last 10: 4-6Streak W367.1 scored · 73.9 allowed per game3-2 at home

W63-62vs Oregon DucksFeb 28
W72-68at Indiana HoosiersFeb 25
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

Purdue Boilermakers

Last 10: 5-5Streak L278.9 scored · 73.4 allowed per game3-2 away

L74-82at Ohio State BuckeyesMar 1
L74-76vs Michigan State SpartansFeb 27
W93-64vs Indiana HoosiersFeb 21
L80-91vs Michigan WolverinesFeb 17
W78-57at Iowa HawkeyesFeb 14
W80-77at Nebraska CornhuskersFeb 11
W68-64vs Oregon DucksFeb 7
W93-63at Maryland TerrapinsFeb 1
L67-72at Indiana HoosiersJan 28
L82-88vs Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 24

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	Purdue Boilermakers	Northwestern Wildcats
Field goals	26-49	24-47
Field goal %	53	51
Three-pointers	9-24	7-16
Three-point %	38	44
Free throws	9-11	11-12
Free throw %	82	92
Rebounds	29	15
Offensive rebounds	9	4
Defensive rebounds	20	11
Assists	22	14
Steals	2	7
Blocks	1	3
Turnovers	14	7
Team turnovers	1	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	12	15
Fast-break points	8	4
Points in the paint	26	24
Fouls	13	14
Largest lead	4	11
Lead changes	11	11
Time in front	13	75

How the scoring went

2nd Half26-36Jayden Reid makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half29-36C.J. Cox makes 25-foot three point jumper (Braden Smith assists)
2nd Half29-38Nick Martinelli makes 9-foot floating jump shot
2nd Half31-38Trey Kaufman-Renn makes 10-foot floating jump shot (Braden Smith assists)
2nd Half34-38C.J. Cox makes 23-foot three point jumper (Fletcher Loyer assists)
2nd Half34-41Nick Martinelli makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jayden Reid assists)
2nd Half34-43Nick Martinelli makes layup (Tre Singleton assists)
2nd Half37-43Fletcher Loyer makes 25-foot three point jumper (C.J. Cox assists)
2nd Half39-43Trey Kaufman-Renn makes driving layup (Braden Smith assists)
2nd Half41-43Oscar Cluff makes layup (C.J. Cox assists)
2nd Half43-43C.J. Cox makes layup
2nd Half43-46Jayden Reid makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jordan Clayton assists)
2nd Half44-46Oscar Cluff makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half44-48Nick Martinelli makes 1-foot dunk (Arrinten Page assists)
2nd Half46-48Braden Smith makes 12-foot pullup jump shot
2nd Half46-50Nick Martinelli makes 5-foot hook shot
2nd Half48-50Oscar Cluff makes layup (C.J. Cox assists)
2nd Half49-50C.J. Cox makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half50-50C.J. Cox makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half50-51Tre Singleton makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half52-51Oscar Cluff makes layup (Braden Smith assists)
2nd Half52-53Jayden Reid makes driving layup
2nd Half54-53Trey Kaufman-Renn makes 13-foot floating jump shot (Oscar Cluff assists)
2nd Half54-55Nick Martinelli makes 7-foot floating jump shot
2nd Half57-55C.J. Cox makes 25-foot three point jumper (Trey Kaufman-Renn assists)
2nd Half57-56Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half57-57Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half60-57C.J. Cox makes 25-foot three point jumper (Fletcher Loyer assists)
2nd Half60-59Nick Martinelli makes 20-foot step back jumpshot
2nd Half62-59C.J. Cox makes 14-foot pullup jump shot (Braden Smith assists)
2nd Half62-60Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half62-61Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half62-63Arrinten Page makes 2-foot dunk (Jordan Clayton assists)
2nd Half63-63Braden Smith makes free throw 1 of 3
2nd Half64-63Braden Smith makes free throw 2 of 3
2nd Half65-63Braden Smith makes free throw 3 of 3
2nd Half65-66Jordan Clayton makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jayden Reid assists)
2nd Half68-66C.J. Cox makes 25-foot three point jumper (Trey Kaufman-Renn assists)
2nd Half69-66Braden Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half70-66Braden Smith makes free throw 2 of 2

Win probability

Above the line favours Northwestern Wildcats, below favours Purdue Boilermakers.