Behind an enormous efficiency from Kam Jones, the Marquette males’s basketball group topped Western Kentucky, 87-69, within the first spherical of the 2024 NCAA Match to advance within the March Insanity bracket.
The Golden Eagles will play Colorado within the second spherical within the South Area on Sunday. Shaka Good’s group was examined and trailed by seven at halftime, however outscored the Hilltoppers by 25 factors within the second half to run away with the victory over the Convention USA event champions at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Here is how the sport unfolded in reverse chronological order with rating updates and highlights.
Marquette basketball closing stats vs. Western Kentucky
Kam Jones shines within the first spherical of the NCAA Match if anybody wanted to be reminded.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA event brackets, scores, schedules, groups and extra.
Final yr on this spherical, Jones had 18 second-half factors to propel the Golden Eagles to a victory over Vermont. This yr, he did it once more. He scored 18 of his game-high 28 factors within the second half to rally Marquette previous Western Kentucky within the 2024 opener of March Insanity. He was magnificent, hitting 10 of 16 photographs, together with 5 large three-pointers.
Tyler Kolek, taking part in in his first recreation since he injured his indirect Feb. 28, had 18 factors and was an environment friendly 7 of 13 from the sector to go along with 11 assists.
Stevie Mitchell and David Joplin got here to life within the second half and every completed in double figures.
Mitchell had 16 factors on 6 of 9 capturing and was particularly aggressive on protection with three steals and supplied loads of vitality to spark the Golden Eagles.
Joplin completed with 13 factors on 5 of 12 capturing and had a pair well timed second-half three-pointers. Joplin additionally had 11 rebounds.
Oso Ighodaro struggled with simply 4 factors on 2 of seven capturing however did have eight rebounds and 5 blocks.
Ben Gold was additionally essential for the Golden Eagles off the bench. He had eight factors.
Marquette shot 47.8% from the sector, 36.1% from three-point vary however simply 53.3% from the free-throw line. The Golden Eagles missed seven of its 15 free-throw makes an attempt.
Led by Kolek, the Golden Eagles had 23 assists on their 33 made photographs.
Requested to grade the group’s efficiency in an on-court post-game interview, Kolek mentioned: “We acquired the win in order that’s a ten in my eyes.”
Western Kentucky’s Tyrone Marshall Jr. has career-high 21 factors however Marquette retains him in verify in second half
Marquette’s protection was important within the tide handing over its favor within the second half.
Western Kentucky senior ahead Tyrone Marshall Jr. had a career-high 21 factors however he scored simply 4 factors after halftime.
The Golden Eagles additionally upped their defensive depth within the second half, making life tougher for the Hilltoppers, who completed with 18 turnovers within the recreation.
TRENDING:Marquette’s first-round win over Western Kentucky in March Insanity ruins Bijan Robinson’s good bracket
Western Kentucky’s three-point capturing additionally fell off within the second half. The Hilltoppers completed 8 of 24 (33.3%) after making 50% of their makes an attempt within the first half.
Marquette All-American guard Tyler Kolek credited junior guard Stevie Mitchell’s aggressiveness as an enormous motive the Golden Eagles roared again.
“Our protection begins with him,” Kolek mentioned.
Marquette vs. Western Kentucky field rating
| Staff | First Half | Second Half | Closing |
| Marquette | 36 | 51 | 87 |
| Western Kentucky | 43 | 26 | 69 |
Closing: Marquette 87, Western Kentucky 69
No. 2 seed Marquette defeats No. 15 Western Kentucky, 87-69, to advance to the second spherical of the NCAA Match behind 28 factors from Kam Jones and a powerful all-around group efficiency within the second half.
Stevie Mitchell makes wild three-pointer
Stevie Mitchell simply hit a circus three-point shot to place Marquette up, 87-67, with 1:17 left.
Marquette was examined however a dominant second half will propel the Golden Eagles to the second spherical of the NCAA Match for a second straight season.
Marquette outscored Western Kentucky, 32-14, over the sport’s closing 11:53 after the Hilltoppers had tied it at 55. And it nonetheless was a five-point recreation with 7:47 left however MU can put up factors quick when its offense is rolling prefer it was as the sport progressed.
Marquette will increase result in 84-67 late in March Insanity recreation vs. Western Kentucky
Marquette has erupted late within the second half of its first-round recreation in opposition to Western Kentucky to construct a 17-point benefit.
The Golden Eagles are actually up 84-67 with 2:08 left after David Joplin’s layup.
After a gradual begin and three first-half factors, Joplin now has 13.
Marquette basketball has largest lead of recreation after two large three-pointers by David Joplin and Kam Jones
In a possession that noticed Western Kentucky play tight protection, Oso Ighodaro discovered David Joplin within the nook and the junior ahead drilled the three-pointer.
Then Kam Jones hit one other three-pointer on Marquette’s subsequent possession. Jones has 28 factors on 10 of 16 capturing and 5 of 10 on three-pointers.
Joplin and Stevie Mitchell have been important to the Golden Eagles’ second-half surge.
Marquette now has its greatest lead of the sport, 78-65, with 4:20 remaining on this first-round March Insanity recreation. About three minutes earlier Marquette was nonetheless clinging to a five-point lead.
The Golden Eagles, who trailed by seven at halftime, have outscored Western Kentucky by 20 factors within the second half.
It is a recreation of runs, although, so do not count on Western Kentucky to put down with its season on the road.
Kam Jones and Stevie Mitchell key to Marquette in second half vs. Western Kentucky
Marquette constructed a 66-59 lead after Kam Jones drilled a three-pointer assisted by Tyler Kolek with 8:30 left.
However Western Kentucky is not going away.
Tyrone Marshall Jr. got here again with one other basket and is as much as a career-high 21 factors.
Jones then hit one other large three-pointer for Marquette and the guard now has 25 factors, a efficiency that’s paying homage to his spectacular recreation in opposition to Vermont in final yr’s NCAA Match first spherical when he scored 18 straight factors for Marquette within the group’s 78-61 victory.
Stevie Mitchell then adopted up a missed three-pointer by Kam Jones and made his put again whereas getting fouled. Marquette leads 71-63 on the under-8 timeout (6:03).
Marquette basketball regains lead after Ben Gold three-pointer and Tyler Kolek layup
Simply after Western Kentucky tied the sport on a three-pointer, Ben Gold got here again and drilled his second three-pointer of the sport on a dish from Tyler Kolek.
Western Kentucky then missed a number of lengthy photographs. It additionally has 15 turnovers.
Kolek drove to the ring for a driving layup and was fouled on the underneath 12-minute timeout (9:55) with Marquette up 60-55. He’ll get a free throw when the motion resumes.
Kolek is as much as 15 factors on 6 of 10 capturing and has six assists.
Kam Jones leads Marquette with 17 factors.
Western Kentucky ties the sport vs. Marquette at 55-all
Marquette took a 55-50 lead after a Kam Jones basket with 13:55 left.
However the Golden Eagles have now hit one other rut with three straight missed photographs and a turnover on an inbounds cross.
Western Kentucky ties it once more after a three-pointer.
The Hilltoppers are on a 7-0 run.
Marquette has the lead throughout 12-2 run early in second half vs. Western Kentucky
Marquette is again within the lead 50-48 after Kam Jones scored on a layup assisted by Tyler Kolek with 15:42 left (first media timeout).
The Golden Eagles are on a 12-2 run in simply over 3 minutes, 30 seconds.
Marquette ties the sport vs. Western Kentucky at 48-all with 16:33 left in second half
Momentum has shifted again in Marquette’s favor.
After Stevie Mitchell had a steal close to Western Kentucky’s baseline, he pushed it as much as Tyler Kolek who then discovered David Joplin. The Brookfield Central graduate took all of it the way in which for a fastbreak layup.
Marquette is on a 10-2 run to tie the sport at 48.
Marquette’s run has compelled Western Kentucky right into a timeout.
Marquette is taking part in with extra aggression on protection and so they’re attacking the basket on offense with function.
Western Kentucky retains making threes as they construct second half lead vs. Marquette
Western Kentucky continued its scorching three-point capturing within the second half. Khristian Lander made a 3 to push the Hilltoppers’ result in 46-38 with 18:59 left.
Will Marquette be first No. 2 seed to lose to a 15 seed in 2024 NCAA Match?
Final yr, Kam Jones took over the second half to spark Marquette to a primary spherical NCAA Match win over No. 15 Vermont.
Will anybody step up for Marquette on Friday?
The Golden Eagles path, 43-36, at halftime and are on upset alert of their 2024 March Insanity recreation.
To start out, Marquette wants to start out hitting their free throws and get again in some kind of offensive rhythm. And the Golden Eagles additionally should restrict Tyrone Marshall Jr., who has scored 17 factors, which is already 9 greater than his season common within the first 20 mniutes.
Marquette basketball vs. Western Kentucky halftime rating, stats
This recreation has certain taken a flip.
No. 15 seed Western Kentucky leads No. 2 Marquette, 43-36, due to a 24-8 run over the ultimate 7 minutes, 52 seconds within the half.
Western Kentucky senior ahead Tyrone Marshall Jr. has a game-high 17 factors on 6 of 9 from the sector and is a blistering 4 of 6 from three-point vary. He entered the sport averaging 8.4 factors per recreation and 34.7% from three-point vary.
As a group, Western Kentucky is 6 of 12 from past the arc.
In the meantime, Marquette is a group that appears flustered, rushed and discombobulated. The Golden Eagles are turning the ball over too typically (eight), are capturing simply 5 for 19 from three-point vary (26.3%) and have missed seven free throws (5 of 12).
They’ve utterly gotten out of sync on protection as effectively.
Tyler Kolek began quick for Marquette, scoring 10 early factors, and completed with 13 within the first half. Kam Jones has 10.
Marquette’s different starters have these stat traces: David Joplin is simply 1 of 6 from the sector (3 factors), Oso Ighodaro 1 for 3 (2 factors) and Stevie Mitchell 1 for 4 (3 factors).
Western Kentucky continues its large run; Marquette struggling in all phases
Momentum is totally in Western Kentucky’s favor and Marquette is all out of kinds.
Marquette has three straight turnovers and Western Kentucky leads 41-33.
Western Kentucky is on a 21-5 run.
Western Kentucky goes on large run to take the lead, 32-31
Marquette has gone utterly chilly and Western Kentucky has stopped turning the ball over prefer it was earlier within the recreation and is scorching from distance.
The outcome? An enormous run from the Hilltoppers.
After Don McHenry’s basket with 4:29, Western Kentucky has the lead, 32-31.
Western Kentucky is on a 13-3 run and has scored on six of their final eight makes an attempt.
Marquette has missed its final 4 photographs from the sector in addition to one other free throw.
Western Kentucky is scorching from three-point vary vs. Marquette
It is raining three pointers for Western Kentucky.
The Hilltoppers have scored on three straight possessions after taking place by 9, 28-19.
Marquette’s Ben Gold additionally had a three-pointer throughout this stretch however Marquette’s lead is down to simply three at 31-28 with 6:36 left within the first half.
Marquette’s capturing has improved vs. Western Kentucky
The Golden Eagles lead Western Kentucky, 26-19, with 7:52 left within the first half (third media timeout).
Marquette is capturing 47.6% (10 of 21) and 33.3% (4 of 12) from 3-point vary however simply 28.6% (2 of seven) from the free-throw line.
Western Kentucky is capturing 40% from the sector however its 9 turnovers have been expensive.
Tyler Kolek leads Marquette with 10 factors. Kam Jones has eight factors.
Marquette’s protection main approach in first half vs. Western Kentucky
Marquette has an eight-point lead once more, 25-17, with 9:04 left. That is the biggest of the day after Kam Jones hit a three-pointer in entrance of the Golden Eagles bench.
Stevie Mitchell discovered the wide-open Jones after a steal in transition.
Jones is as much as seven factors and Marquette is capturing higher after its gradual begin.
Western Kentucky had scored 5 straight to chop the deficit to 20-17 however Marquette answered with 5 straight of its personal. The Hilltoppers have 9 turnovers in lower than 11 minutes of play. Marquette is No. 6 within the NCAA in forcing turnovers.
Western Kentucky has referred to as a timeout, making an attempt to cease the momentum.
David Joplin’s three-pointer and Kolek’s breakaway steal sparks Marquette
Marquette is off and operating now and taking part in with extra aggression.
David Joplin hit a step-back three after which Tyler Kolek went the gap on a steal for a breakaway layup. Then Kam Jones hit a point-blank shot off the glass.
Instantly, Marquette leads 20-12.
However then Western Kentucky got here again and drilled a three-pointer to chop the result in 20-15.
Marquette up 13-12 after eight minutes within the first half
Outdoors of Tyler Kolek, Marquette is scuffling with its shot.
By eight minutes, Marquette is 5 of 14 (35.7%) from the sector and a couple of of 8 (25%) from three-point vary. The Golden Eagles are additionally simply 1 of 5 (20%) from the free-throw line.
Kam Jones had a pleasant drive to the basket and whereas getting fouled he his shot. However he missed his free throw.
Throughout this current stretch, Western Kentucky had three straight turnovers for 5 complete. However Marquette additionally has three early on, the final one coming proper earlier than the second media timeout.
Marquette leads Western Kentucky, 8-7, at first media timeout
Marquette holds the small 8-7 lead with 15:56 left.
Western Kentucky might be on the free-throw line popping out of the timeout.
After making his first two 3-pointers Kolek missed his subsequent shot. However the All-American level guard would not look like restricted from the indirect damage that stored him out since Feb. 28.
Tyler Kolek hits first two 3-pointers after getting back from damage
Tyler Kolek is again after lacking the final six video games with an damage and he’s off to an important begin in opposition to Western Kentucky.
He opened with a made three-pointer early on to make it 5-5 about two minutes into the sport. Oso Ighodaro acquired an offensive rebound and threw it out to Kolek on the prime of the important thing.
Then, two possessions later, Kolek hit one other one on a cross from Ighodaro as Marquette was pushing the tempo after a rebound. It is 8-5 Marquette with 17:08 left.
Welcome again, Tyler Kolek. Kolek shoots 40% from deep on the season.
Marquette basketball beginning lineup
- Kam Jones
- Stevie Mitchell
- Tyler Kolek
- David Joplin
- Oso Ighodaro
The place is Marquette situated?
Marquette College is situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
After little or no snow this winter, Milwaukee was hit with a spring snowstorm right this moment.
Would not it look lovely?
The place is Western Kentucky situated?
Western Kentucky is situated in Bowling Inexperienced, Kentucky.
Marquette vs Western Kentucky reside rating updates in NCAA Match first spherical
Marquette (2) vs. Western Kentucky (15) within the South Area.
The winner performs the winner of Florida (7) vs. Colorado (10) within the second spherical on Sunday.
Marquette recreation jerseys for right this moment’s recreation vs. Western Kentucky
What channel is Marquette vs. Western Kentucky on right this moment? How one can watch, stream reside
- TV channel: TBS
- Stream: NCAA March Insanity Stay app | Sling TV
Marquette will tip off vs. Western Kentucky on TBS. Streaming choices embrace the NCAA March Insanity Stay app and Sling TV (or Fubo, which presents a free trial). Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Dan Bonner and Stan Van Gundy (analysts) will name the sport. Andy Katz is the sideline reporter.
Marquette vs. Western Kentucky begin time, TV data, location
- Begin time: 1 p.m.
- TV data: TBS
- Location: Gainbridge Fieldhose, Indianapolis, Indiana
Marquette vs Western Kentucky basketball preview
Marquette: Marquette is within the NCAA Match for a 3rd straight season. The Golden Eagles enter the event with a 25-9 total report. They completed second within the Huge East with a 14-6 mark. After defeating Vermont within the opening spherical final yr of the NCAA Match, the Golden Eagles fell to Michigan State within the second spherical.
Western Kentucky: Western Kentucky will play within the NCAA Match for the primary time because the 2012-13 season. The Hilltoppers completed the common season 22-11 and 8-8 in Convention USA play. They earned the league’s automated bid into the NCAA Match after successful three video games in three days of their convention tourney.
Marquette vs Western Kentucky odds, betting line, unfold
Odds in response to BetMGM
- Unfold: Marquette -14 ½
- Over/underneath: 157
- Moneyline: Marquette -1070; Western Kentucky +735
Marquette vs Western Kentucky prediction, recreation picks
Marquette is a heavy favourite as a No. 2 seed and also you most likely will not discover many March Insanity brackets selecting the upset. Marquette, although banged up with accidents, is skilled and motivated after bowing out within the second spherical of final yr’s NCAA Match. Western Kentucky wanted to win its convention event to qualify for March Insanity.
Journal Sentinel’s Marquette beat reporter Ben Steele writes that “this recreation is in regards to the Golden Eagles getting again right into a circulation with Kolek on the courtroom. It is perhaps more durable than anticipated for MU, however there’s sufficient edge in expertise to push MU into the second spherical.”
How far will Marquette go within the NCAA Match? Here is why Marquette can advance to the Elite 8.
SCOUTING REPORT:Who has the sting between Marquette vs. Western Kentucky within the 2024 NCAA Match first spherical?
Marquette vs Western Kentucky damage updates
Tyler Kolek is the participant everybody needs to find out about. Marquette’s two-time All-American level guard hasn’t performed since struggling an indirect damage Feb. 28 in opposition to Windfall. The senior missed the group’s closing three common season video games after which the Golden Eagles’ three Huge East event video games.
Head coach Shaka Good mentioned Kolek will play on Friday.
Marquette ahead Oso Ighodaro can be one to look at. The 6-foot-11 senior banged knees in Marquette’s loss to UConn within the Huge East event title recreation final Saturday. He departed with about seven minutes left within the recreation and did not return, however he must be a full-go for the NCAA Match.
Marquette vs. Western Kentucky stats
Marquette
- PPG: 78.3
- PPG allowed: 69.7
- FG%: 47.8%
- 3PT%: 35.8%
- KenPom rating: 13
Western Kentucky
- PPG: 80.6
- PPG allowed: 74.1
- FG% 46.8%
- 3PT%: 34.0%
- KenPom rating: 135
Marquette vs Western Kentucky championship odds
Odds in response to BetMGM:
Marquette: +2500 (ninth greatest odds)
Marquette basketball schedule 2023-24
The previous 5 video games of Marquette basketball’s 2023-24 basketball season. For the complete schedule, click on right here.
| Date | Rating |
| 3/9 | Marquette 86, Xavier 80 (W) |
| 3/14 | Marquette 71, Villanova 65 (W) Huge East event quarterfinals |
| 3/15 | Marquette 79, Windfall 68 (W) Huge East event semifinals |
| 3/16 | Marquette 57, UConn 73 (L) Huge East event championship |
| 3/22 | Marquette vs. Western Kentucky in NCAA Match first spherical |
Western Kentucky basketball schedule 2023-24
The previous 5 video games of Western Kentucky’s 2023-24 basketball season. For the complete schedule, click on right here.
| Date | Rating |
| 3/9 | Western Kentucky 79, Liberty 82 (L) |
| 3/14 | Western Kentucky 89, New Mexico State 69 (W) Convention USA event quarterfinals |
| 3/15 | Western Kentucky 85, Center Tennessee 54 (W) Convention USA event semifinals |
| 3/16 | Western Kentucky 78, UTEP 71 (W) Convention USA event championship |
| 3/22 | Western Kentucky vs. Marquette in NCAA Match first spherical |