EVANSTON, Ill. (Interstat) — Nick Martinelli scored 29 points and Northwestern used a dominant second-half surge to pull away from Valparaiso for an 86-70 victory in nonconference men’s basketball Tuesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The Wildcats, who improved to 7-4, led by just nine points at halftime but opened the second half with a decisive 12-2 run to establish control and never looked back. The Beacons fell to 6-5.

Martinelli, a 6-foot-7 junior from Glenview, Illinois, was efficient and relentless, hitting 12 of his 18 shots from the floor while adding five rebounds. His performance anchored a Northwestern offense that was markedly more effective, scoring 86 points on 68 possessions for an offensive rating of 125.6, compared to Valparaiso’s 103.8 rating on 67 possessions.

The most critical sequence of the game came immediately after the intermission. Leading 39-30, Northwestern came out with heightened defensive intensity. The Wildcats forced two quick Valparaiso turnovers and converted them into easy baskets, with Martinelli scoring six points during the burst. A driving layup and free throw by Martinelli capped the run, pushing the lead to 51-32 with 16:46 to play and effectively silencing any hopes of a Valparaiso comeback.

Northwestern’s interior dominance was a key factor, outscoring Valparaiso 50-26 in the paint. Arrinten Page, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, complemented Martinelli with 18 points, three assists and a block. Tre Singleton added 10 points, and point guard Jayden Reid chipped in 13 points and five assists.

Valparaiso was led by JT Pettigrew’s 13 points and Brody Whitaker’s 12. Justus McNair added 10 points off the bench. The Beacons struggled with Northwestern’s defensive pressure, committing 13 turnovers which the Wildcats converted into 24 points. Northwestern also held a significant advantage in fastbreak points, 11-4.

The first half was a more contested affair. Northwestern built an early lead behind Martinelli, who had 15 points before the break, but Valparaiso hung around by attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line. The Beacons shot 16 for 22 from the stripe in the game, but only 6 for 19 from three-point range. Northwestern also struggled from deep, making just 5 of 21 attempts, but their superior efficiency inside the arc and ability to generate turnovers proved decisive.

Northwestern’s defense tightened considerably in the second half, holding Valparaiso to just 40 percent shooting after halftime while the Wildcats themselves shot over 57 percent from the field. The Wildcats also won the battle on the glass, securing 10 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.

The announced attendance was 4,525 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern, which was a 15.5-point pregame favorite according to FanDuel Sportsbook, next travels to face Butler on Saturday in Indianapolis. Valparaiso returns home to host Murray State on Sunday.