Nick Martinelli scored 24 points, sealing the win with two free throws to break a tie with 3.5 seconds remaining in regulation, helping Northwestern stay undefeated with an 81-79 victory over local rival DePaul on Friday night in Chicago.

Arrinten Page finished with 22 points for the Wildcats (4-0), who shot 58% to win their fourth straight over DePaul in a game that featured 17 lead changes. Martinelli, a suburban Chicago product, grabbed the rebound after a miss by teammate Jayden Reid (17 points) and was fouled by the Blue Demons' Kruz McClure. He then, calmly, sank two free throws to secure the victory.

McClure had 15 points for DePaul (2-2), which shot 42.4%, but held a 16-6 advantage on the offensive boards and a 20-7 edge in second-chance points.

DePaul led 44-42 following a firs

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