Nick Martinelli, Northwestern ease past Boston U.

Nick Martinelli scored 20 points to go with nine rebounds and Jayden Reid added 17 points and eight assists to help host Northwestern to a 76-52 victory against Boston University on Friday in Evanston, Ill.

Northwestern (2-0) capitalized on savvy defense and speed in a game in which it never trailed. The Wildcats scored 18 points off 14 Terriers turnovers while holding a 12-5 advantage in fast-break points and a 40-16 edge in points in the paint.

The Wildcats, who led by as many as 30 points after halftime, shot 51.7% while committing just five turnovers.

Martinelli illustrated the Wildcats' hustle late in the first half, taking Tre Singleton's pass off a Terriers' missed 3-pointer and sprinting in for a fast-break layup through contact. Martinelli hit the free throw to finish off a three-point play.

Boston University shot 32.8%, including a 9-for-23 effort from deep. Michael McNair led the team with 20 points while shooting 6-for-10 from long range. Sam Hughes chipped in nine points and Malcolm Chimezie snagged a game-high 10 rebounds.

The teams finished nearly even on the glass, with the Terriers holding a 37-36 rebounding edge. Boston University grabbed 15 offensive boards compared to 11 for Northwestern.

The Terriers struggled from the floor at the start, leading to a double-digit deficit after just 6:42. They stayed afloat behind a sequence of treys from McNair, who drilled three triples over a 1:51 span to snap a lengthy scoring drought.

The third make over that stretch brought the Terriers to within 22-13, but the Wildcats responded with a Martinelli trey that kicked off an 11-4 run that stretched the advantage to 16 points with 4:11 to go before halftime.

Martinelli (15 points) and Reid (11) combined to shoot 10-for-15 in the first half, helping the Wildcats take a 45-26 lead into intermission.

Northwestern prevailed despite shooting just 7-for-13 from the three-throw line.

Terriers guard Kyrone Alexander, who left Monday's season opener with a left leg injury, sat on the bench with crutches and is expected to miss up to four weeks.