Golden Eagles' Gritty Overtime Triumph: Fouls Prove Decisive Against Friars
James Jr.'s Career Night Fuels Marquette's Narrow Win
Nigel James Jr. delivered a standout performance, achieving a personal best of 38 points and contributing eight assists. His exceptional play was instrumental in leading the Marquette Golden Eagles to a hard-fought 105-104 overtime victory against the Providence Friars in Milwaukee.
Team Effort: Multiple Players Reach Double Digits for Marquette
For only the third time this season, Marquette, now holding a 7-13 overall record and 2-7 in the Big East, saw five of its players score in double figures. Royce Parham added 18 points, Chase Ross contributed 16, Ben Gold scored 14, and Damarius Owens chipped in 12, showcasing a collective offensive effort.
Providence's Offensive Leaders and Injury Setbacks
Providence, with a current record of 9-10 overall and 2-6 in conference play, was spearheaded by Jaylin Sellers with 27 points and Stefan Vaaks, who recorded a career-high 26 points. The Friars, however, were notably impacted by the absence of their leading Big East scorer, Jason Edwards, due to a foot injury.
Dramatic Swings in the Closing Moments of Regulation
The end of regulation was marked by intense back-and-forth action. After James' three-point play concluded a 7-0 Marquette run, putting them up 86-84, Providence responded with its own 6-0 surge, securing a 94-91 lead with only 18 seconds left on the clock.
Freshman Heroics: James Jr. Forces Overtime with Clutch Free Throws
In a crucial moment, Damarius Owens' steal allowed the Golden Eagles to advance the ball, leading to Nigel James Jr. being fouled on a three-point attempt with just two seconds remaining. The freshman calmly converted all three free throws, including one after a Providence timeout, to send the game into overtime.
Overtime Decided by Providence's Costly Error
The overtime period was a closely contested battle until Providence made a critical mistake, fouling Ben Gold with four seconds left after he secured a steal. Gold successfully made the first free throw to give Marquette the lead but missed the second. Nonetheless, the Golden Eagles held on for the necessary defensive stop to clinch the win.
Marquette's Strong First-Half Offensive Display
Marquette displayed impressive shooting in the first half, connecting on 60.6% of their field goals. Despite a 5-for-13 performance from beyond the arc, timely three-pointers from Adrien Stevens and Damarius Owens in the final minute of the half helped them establish a 54-44 lead at halftime.
Dominant Defense and Turnover Advantage in the Opening Half
The Golden Eagles' first-half performance was also characterized by disciplined play, committing only one turnover, while their defense forced Providence into 10 turnovers, converting these into 16 points.
Second-Half Struggles and Providence's Resurgence
Despite their strong first half, Marquette experienced familiar difficulties in the second half as Providence mounted a significant comeback. The Friars erased a 10-point deficit and took a five-point lead with 4:33 left, largely propelled by Stefan Vaaks' hot shooting from deep, as he drained five of Providence's six second-half triples.
Ending the Skid and Extending the Winning Streak Against a Rival
With this victory, Marquette not only broke a three-game losing streak but also extended its winning streak against Providence to five consecutive matchups, showcasing their continued dominance over their conference rival.