PURDUE

NWEST

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C.J. Cox rallies No. 15 Purdue past Nick Martinelli and Northwestern 70-66

AP
Mar 04, 2026

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) C.J. Cox scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 48 seconds left that helped No. 15 Purdue Boilermakers edge Nick Martinelli and Northwestern Wildcats 70-66 on Wednesday night.

Cox outlasted Martinelli in a memorable duel in the final minutes, sending Purdue to a sorely needed victory. The Boilermakers (23-7, 13-6 Big Ten) had lost two in a row and three of four overall.

Trey Kaufman-Renn added 11 points and 10 rebounds, shaking off a shoulder injury in the second half. Fletcher Loyer finished with 10 points.

Martinelli, a senior playing his final home game, scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half. The Big Ten’s leading scorer moved into seventh on the school's career list with 1,687 points, passing Northwestern assistant coach Bryant McIntosh.

Jayden Reid scored 16 points for the Wildcats (13-17, 5-14), who had won three in a row.

Northwestern was in control before Purdue got back in the game with a 9-0 run in the second half. Cox tied it at 43 on a layup with 13:22 remaining.

Braden Smith was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made three free throws to give the Boilermakers a 65-63 lead with 1:33 left. But the Wildcats moved back in front on Jordan Clayton's contested 3 as the shot clock expired.

Cox then put Purdue ahead to stay on a 3 with 48 seconds remaining. Following a Northwestern turnover, Smith helped close it out with two free throws with 12 seconds left.

The Boilermakers shot 62.5% (15 for 24) from the field in the second half, compared to 45.8% (11 for 24) for the Wildcats.

Northwestern led by 11 before settling for a 34-25 lead at the break. Reid scored nine points in the first half on 4-for-5 shooting.

Purdue hosts Wisconsin on Saturday.

Northwestern visits Minnesota on Saturday night.

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1st Half
PUR
Boilermakers
25
NW
Wildcats
34

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Oscar Cluff vs. Arrinten Page (Justin Mullins gains possession)
19:32	+2	Jayden Reid makes two point jump shot	0-2
19:04	+2	Fletcher Loyer makes two point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	2-2
18:44		Arrinten Page misses two point hook shot
18:42		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
18:07		Oscar Cluff turnover (bad pass)
17:41	+2	Tre Singleton makes two point jump shot	2-4
17:19		Trey Kaufman-Renn turnover (traveling)
17:06		Jayden Reid turnover (lost ball) (Oscar Cluff steals)
17:04		Jayden Reid blocks Oscar Cluff's two point layup
17:02		Boilermakers offensive rebound
16:57		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point layup
16:55		C.J. Cox offensive rebound
16:49		Arrinten Page blocks Trey Kaufman-Renn's two point jump shot
16:47		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
16:42	+2	C.J. Cox makes two point jump shot (Oscar Cluff assists)	4-4
16:21		Justin Mullins misses three point jump shot
16:19		Justin Mullins offensive rebound
16:05		Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
16:03		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
15:51		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point jump shot
15:51		Tre Singleton personal foul
15:51		TV timeout
15:40		Justin Mullins personal foul
15:38	+2	C.J. Cox makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	6-4
15:17		Nick Martinelli misses three point jump shot
15:15		Boilermakers defensive rebound
14:51		Trey Kaufman-Renn turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Clayton steals)
14:49	+2	Angelo Ciaravino makes two point layup (Nick Martinelli assists)	6-6
14:28		Tyler Kropp personal foul
14:16		Braden Smith turnover (bad pass)
13:48	+3	Jordan Clayton makes three point jump shot (Jayden Reid assists)	6-9
13:13		C.J. Cox misses three point jump shot
13:11		Tyler Kropp defensive rebound
12:47		Jayden Reid misses two point jump shot
12:45		Nick Martinelli offensive rebound
12:45		Daniel Jacobsen shooting foul
12:45	+1	Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-10
12:45	+1	Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-11
12:22		Jack Benter turnover (lost ball) (Angelo Ciaravino steals)
12:02	+2	Jordan Clayton makes two point jump shot	6-13
11:42		Fletcher Loyer misses two point jump shot
11:40		Angelo Ciaravino defensive rebound
11:15	+2	Tyler Kropp makes two point hook shot (Angelo Ciaravino assists)	6-15
11:15		Boilermakers 30 second timeout
11:15		TV timeout
10:59		Tyler Kropp personal foul
10:51		Braden Smith misses three point jump shot
10:49		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
10:41		Braden Smith misses two point jump shot
10:39		Arrinten Page defensive rebound
10:19		Omer Mayer personal foul
9:59	+2	Jayden Reid makes two point jump shot (Nick Martinelli assists)	6-17
9:37	+3	Gicarri Harris makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	9-17
9:02	+2	Arrinten Page makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Tre Singleton assists)	9-19
8:36	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point layup (Oscar Cluff assists)	11-19
8:05		Oscar Cluff blocks Tre Singleton's two point jump shot
8:03		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
7:53		Nick Martinelli personal foul
7:53		TV timeout
7:46		Gicarri Harris misses three point jump shot
7:44		Trey Kaufman-Renn offensive rebound
7:37		Jack Benter misses three point jump shot
7:35		Arrinten Page defensive rebound
7:28		Justin Mullins misses two point jump shot
7:26		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
7:13	+3	Jack Benter makes three point jump shot (Gicarri Harris assists)	14-19
6:51	+3	Arrinten Page makes three point jump shot (Jayden Reid assists)	14-22
6:18	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point hook shot (Gicarri Harris assists)	16-22
5:52		Tre Singleton misses three point jump shot
5:50		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
5:41		Gicarri Harris misses three point jump shot
5:39		Tre Singleton defensive rebound
5:19		Omer Mayer personal foul
5:18		Trey Kaufman-Renn personal foul
5:06	+2	Jayden Reid makes two point layup	16-24
4:37		Trey Kaufman-Renn offensive foul
4:37		Trey Kaufman-Renn turnover (offensive foul)
4:16		Jordan Clayton misses three point jump shot
4:14		Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound
4:01		C.J. Cox misses three point jump shot
4:00		Angelo Ciaravino personal foul
4:00		TV timeout
3:56		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
3:54		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
3:53		Oscar Cluff turnover (traveling)
3:39		Jayden Reid turnover (lost ball)
3:16	+3	Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (Jack Benter assists)	19-24
2:55	+3	Jayden Reid makes three point jump shot (Nick Martinelli assists)	19-27
2:33	+2	Fletcher Loyer makes two point jump shot	21-27
2:06	+3	Nick Martinelli makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kropp assists)	21-30
1:45		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
1:43		Tyler Kropp defensive rebound
1:21		Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
1:19		Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound
1:15	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	23-30
1:15		Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:58	+2	Nick Martinelli makes two point hook shot	23-32
0:34		Fletcher Loyer turnover (lost ball)
0:06		Jack Benter shooting foul
0:06	+1	Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-33
0:06	+1	Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-34
0:01	+2	C.J. Cox makes two point jump shot	25-34
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
PUR
Boilermakers
45
NW
Wildcats
32

Time		Play	Score
19:38		Nick Martinelli shooting foul (Trey Kaufman-Renn draws the foul)
19:38	+1	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-34
19:38		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:38		Arrinten Page defensive rebound
19:21		Fletcher Loyer shooting foul (Jayden Reid draws the foul)
19:21	+1	Jayden Reid makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-35
19:21	+1	Jayden Reid makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-36
19:03	+3	C.J. Cox makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	29-36
18:32	+2	Nick Martinelli makes two point jump shot	29-38
18:12	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	31-38
17:44		Nick Martinelli misses two point layup
17:42		Braden Smith defensive rebound
17:38	+3	C.J. Cox makes three point jump shot (Fletcher Loyer assists)	34-38
17:05	+3	Nick Martinelli makes three point jump shot (Jayden Reid assists)	34-41
16:49		Fletcher Loyer turnover (bad pass) (Tre Singleton steals)
16:23	+2	Nick Martinelli makes two point layup (Tre Singleton assists)	34-43
16:07	+3	Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (C.J. Cox assists)	37-43
15:42		Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
15:40		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
15:32		Tre Singleton personal foul (Oscar Cluff draws the foul)
15:32		TV timeout
15:26	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	39-43
15:04		Jayden Reid misses three point jump shot
15:02		Braden Smith defensive rebound
14:41		Trey Kaufman-Renn turnover (bad pass) (Jayden Reid steals)
14:37		Angelo Ciaravino turnover (lost ball)
14:11	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup (C.J. Cox assists)	41-43
13:47		Jayden Reid offensive foul (Fletcher Loyer draws the foul)
13:47		Jayden Reid turnover (offensive foul)
13:32		C.J. Cox misses three point jump shot
13:29		Trey Kaufman-Renn offensive rebound
13:25		Braden Smith misses three point jump shot
13:23		C.J. Cox offensive rebound
13:22	+2	C.J. Cox makes two point putback layup	43-43
13:16		Wildcats 30 second timeout
13:16		TV timeout
13:03	+3	Jayden Reid makes three point jump shot (Jordan Clayton assists)	43-46
12:30		Arrinten Page blocks Gicarri Harris's two point jump shot
12:28		Boilermakers turnover (shot clock violation)
12:15		Tre Singleton misses three point jump shot
12:13		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
12:06		Braden Smith turnover (bad pass) (Jayden Reid steals)
12:00		Jayden Reid misses two point layup
11:58		Tre Singleton offensive rebound
11:56		Tre Singleton turnover (lost ball) (Fletcher Loyer steals)
11:52		Tre Singleton shooting foul (Oscar Cluff draws the foul)
11:52		TV timeout
11:52		Oscar Cluff misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:52	+1	Oscar Cluff makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-46
11:24		Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
11:22		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
11:07		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point layup
11:05		Jordan Clayton defensive rebound
10:44	+2	Nick Martinelli makes two point dunk (Arrinten Page assists)	44-48
10:24		Braden Smith turnover (bad pass) (Jordan Clayton steals)
10:13		Nick Martinelli misses three point jump shot
10:11		Daniel Jacobsen defensive rebound
9:59		Gicarri Harris misses three point jump shot
9:57		Justin Mullins defensive rebound
9:44		Arrinten Page misses two point hook shot
9:42		Gicarri Harris defensive rebound
9:30	+2	Braden Smith makes two point jump shot	46-48
9:07	+2	Nick Martinelli makes two point layup	46-50
8:43		Jack Benter misses three point jump shot
8:41		Daniel Jacobsen personal foul (Arrinten Page draws the foul)
8:25		Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
8:23		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
8:13	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup (C.J. Cox assists)	48-50
7:49		Omer Mayer personal foul (Tre Singleton draws the foul)
7:49		TV timeout
7:33		Jayden Reid misses two point jump shot
7:31		Braden Smith defensive rebound
7:28		Nick Martinelli shooting foul (C.J. Cox draws the foul)
7:28	+1	C.J. Cox makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-50
7:28	+1	C.J. Cox makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-50
7:10		Oscar Cluff shooting foul (Tre Singleton draws the foul)
7:10	+1	Tre Singleton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-51
7:10		Tre Singleton misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:10		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
6:42		Braden Smith misses three point jump shot
6:40		Justin Mullins defensive rebound
6:17		Nick Martinelli misses two point jump shot
6:15		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
6:11	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	52-51
5:47	+2	Jayden Reid makes two point layup	52-53
5:28		Tre Singleton personal foul (Trey Kaufman-Renn draws the foul)
5:23	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point jump shot (Oscar Cluff assists)	54-53
4:51	+2	Nick Martinelli makes two point jump shot	54-55
4:32	+3	C.J. Cox makes three point jump shot (Trey Kaufman-Renn assists)	57-55
4:03		Oscar Cluff personal foul (Nick Martinelli draws the foul)
3:58		Braden Smith personal foul (Nick Martinelli draws the foul)
3:58		TV timeout
3:58	+1	Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-56
3:58	+1	Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-57
3:32	+3	C.J. Cox makes three point jump shot (Fletcher Loyer assists)	60-57
3:09	+2	Nick Martinelli makes two point jump shot	60-59
2:45		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
2:43		C.J. Cox offensive rebound
2:29	+2	C.J. Cox makes two point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	62-59
2:12		Oscar Cluff personal foul (Nick Martinelli draws the foul)
2:12	+1	Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-60
2:12	+1	Nick Martinelli makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-61
2:01		Braden Smith turnover (bad pass) (Jordan Clayton steals)
1:57	+2	Arrinten Page makes two point dunk (Jordan Clayton assists)	62-63
1:57		Boilermakers 30 second timeout
1:33		Jayden Reid shooting foul (Braden Smith draws the foul)
1:33	+1	Braden Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 3	63-63
1:33	+1	Braden Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 3	64-63
1:33	+1	Braden Smith makes regular free throw 3 of 3	65-63
1:33		Boilermakers 30 second timeout
1:03	+3	Jordan Clayton makes three point jump shot (Jayden Reid assists)	65-66
0:50	+3	C.J. Cox makes three point jump shot (Trey Kaufman-Renn assists)	68-66
0:36		Nick Martinelli turnover (bad pass)
0:36		Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:19		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
0:17		Tre Singleton defensive rebound
0:14		Tre Singleton turnover (bad pass)
0:12		Tre Singleton personal foul (Braden Smith draws the foul)
0:12	+1	Braden Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-66
0:12	+1	Braden Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-66
0:09		Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:07		Nick Martinelli misses three point jump shot
0:05		K.J. Windham offensive rebound
0:02		K.J. Windham misses three point jump shot
0:00		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound