INDIANAPOLIS — Playing without leading scorer Nick Martinelli, Northwestern lost to Butler 61-58 on Saturday in the Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Martinelli, who is averaging 21.9 points and 6.6 rebounds, missed the game with a concussion, according to the Northwestern Basketball X accoun t. The 6-foot-7 senior led the Big Ten in scoring last season. Northwestern (7-5) trailed 29-23 at the break and never led after halftime, though the Wildcats repeatedly cut into the margin. They made a final push in the closing minute. Tre Singleton’s jumper with 31 seconds left pulled Northwestern within one, but Michael Ajayi answered on the next possession with a layup off a pass from Drayton Jones to restore a three-point cushion. After Northwestern came up empty on its next trip, Butler closed it out at the line. Evan Haywood made two free throws with 19 seconds remaining, and the Wildcats missed two 3-point attempts in the final 12 seconds. Ajayi posted a 19-point, 20-rebound double-double to lead the Bulldogs (9-3). Jayden Reid led Northwestern with 14 points and six assists, and Singleton finished with eight points. The Wildcats struggled from long range, shooting 4 of 23 (17%) on 3-pointers. Butler shot 38% from the field and 7 of 30 from behind the arc but finished with a 41-35 rebounding edge. The Bulldogs set the tone early, outrebounding Northwestern 23-14 in the first half and scoring 10 second-chance points to the Wildcats’ zero. Up next Northwestern: vs. Howard on Dec. 30. Butler: vs. NJIT on Monday. ...read more read less