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.

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

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 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.