EVANSTON, Ill. (Interstat) — Nick Martinelli scored a game-high 32 points and Northwestern used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from Howard for an 80-60 victory in nonconference men’s basketball Tuesday night at a half-full Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The Wildcats, who led by just three points at halftime, outscored the Bison 49-32 after the break, leveraging a decisive advantage at the free-throw line and a stifling defensive effort to secure their eighth win of the season.

The game’s pivotal shift occurred early in the second half. After a tightly contested opening period ended with Northwestern ahead 31-28, the Wildcats opened the final frame with a 13-4 run over the first four and a half minutes. Martinelli, a 6-foot-7 junior from Glenview, Illinois, was the catalyst, scoring seven points during the surge, including a driving layup that pushed the lead to 44-32 and forced a Howard timeout.

Howard, which entered the game on a four-game winning streak, could not mount a sustained response. The Bison struggled to generate consistent offense against Northwestern’s length, committing 13 turnovers that led to 15 Wildcat points. Northwestern also controlled the interior, blocking six shots and altering numerous others, while drawing fouls consistently to attempt 34 free throws, making 22. Howard attempted only 13 free throws.

Martinelli’s efficient 32 points came on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, and he was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. He added six rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 36 minutes. He was complemented by Tre Singleton, who posted 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Justin Mullins provided a first-half spark off the bench with 12 points, all from beyond the arc.

Howard was led by Travelle Bryson’s 19 points and six rebounds. Ose Okojie added 13 points, but the Bison shot just 40% from the field and managed only four assists as a team against seven Northwestern steals.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. Howard’s defense initially frustrated the Wildcats, forcing eight turnovers. The Bison took their largest lead at 12-7 after a Cedric Taylor 3-pointer midway through the half. Northwestern responded with an 11-0 run, fueled by two Mullins 3-pointers, to take an 18-12 advantage. Howard chipped away and a Bryson 3-pointer in the final minute sent the teams to the locker room with Northwestern holding a narrow 31-28 edge.

The second half told a different story. Northwestern’s offensive rating of 122.8, compared to Howard’s 90.7, underscored their efficiency. The Wildcats also won the battle on the glass, securing 12 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points.

With the win, Northwestern improves to 8-5 overall. Howard, which had its winning streak snapped, falls to 9-6. The Wildcats open Big Ten Conference play at home against Minnesota on Saturday. Howard begins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on the road at South Carolina State on Saturday.