#MUBB Takes On No. 2/2 Purdue For Maui Title

The No. 4/5 Marquette University men's basketball team (5-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) wraps up play at the 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 4 p.m. CT against No. 2/2 Purdue (5-0, 0-0 Big Ten) in the championship game. ESPN features the television broadcast, with Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) calling the action. Following Wednesday's outing, the Golden Eagles will return to Fiserv Forum to host Southern on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Limited Series Includes Postseason Matchup

While Marquette and Purdue have met just 11 times in the all-time series, the matchups do include a memorable NCAA tournament game.

The Boilermakers claimed a 75-73 overtime victory on March 15, 1969 in the NCAA Mideast Regional final courtesy of a buzzer-beating jumper by Rick Mount. Marquette had defeated Murray State and No. 7 Kentucky in the tourney, but Al McGuire's squad came up just short in its bid for a first-ever Final Four trip. Marquette was led by legendary George Thompson, who scored 28 points in his final collegiate game.

Purdue has claimed 10 of the 11 meetings between the two programs in the series that dates back to the 1931-32. Marquette rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit at Fiserv Forum on Nov. 13, 2019 for a 65-55 win to claim its first-ever victory over the Boilermakers.

Marquette led by as many as nine points in the second half on Nov. 15, 2022 in the most recent matchup, but Purdue rallied for a 75-70 win in the Gavitt Tip-Off Games in West Lafayette. Forward David Joplin led three players in double figures for Marquette with a game-high 21 points. Oso Ighodaro chipped in 10 points, five assists and five rebounds.

Marquette Making Second Title Trip

Marquette is now 8-3 in four appearances in the Allstate Maui Invitational after Tuesday's win over No. 1/1 Kansas and the team will play in its second title game on Wednesday night.

The Golden Eagles were defeated in the championship by Duke, 77-73, in the 2007 event. MU, which as claimed two wins in each of its four appearances, downed host Chaminade and Oklahoma State before falling to the Blue Devils.

Golden Eagles Facing Nation's Best

Wednesday's outing will be the team's third against a nationally ranked opponent already in 2023-24, including back-to-back matchups versus the top-two ranked programs in the land.

The last time Marquette faced top-five teams in consecutive games came during the program's run to the 2003 Final Four. MU defeated No. 4 Pittsburgh and No. 1 Kentucky en route to the semifinals, eventually losing to No. 6 Kansas in New Orleans.

MU's win over Kansas was the program's third (3-11) against the No. 1 team and first since downing Villanova 74-72 at home in 2016-17.

Marquette is looking to start 6-0 for the first time since winning its first 10 outings in 2011-12.

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Players Mentioned

Oso Ighodaro

David Joplin