When junior forward Nick Martinelli sank a game-winning shot to cap off Northwestern’s 77-75 win over USC Tuesday, it wasn’t just the final score that told the story — it was the relentless hustle of a team playing without its star rebounder.

Martinelli split a double team near the baseline and softly laid it in to give Northwestern the lead in the closing seconds.

With 35 seconds remaining and Northwestern clinging to a 74-71 lead, graduate student center Matthew Nicholson was fouled on his way to the basket. Had he converted both free throws, the game would have been all but decided.

However, it was all for naught. USC's defense allowed NU's Nick Martinelli to hit a go-ahead jumper with 2.4 seconds remaining. The Trojans subsequently turned the ball over on their final offensive possession, thus ending the game and handing them a 77-75 loss.

Nick Martinelli capped a 27-point night by hitting a scoop shot with two seconds remaining to give Northwestern a 77-75 win over Southern California on Tuesday in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern

Nick Martinelli scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and his basket with 2.6 seconds left helped Northwestern men’s basketball hold off USC 77-75 on Tuesday in Evanston.