#MUBB Opens BIG EAST Play At Providence Tuesday Night

The No. Marquette University men's basketball team (9-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) opens BIG EAST Conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 19 when the squad travels to Amica Mutual Pavilion to face Providence (9-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) at 7:30 p.m. CT. FS1 features the television broadcast, with John Fanta (play-by-play) and Donny Marshall (analyst) calling the action. Following Tuesday's action, MU opens the home portion of the league schedule against Georgetown on Friday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. CT.

All-Time Series Provides Plenty Of Highlights

The all-time series between Marquette and Providence consists of 36 games (Marquette leads 22-14) and includes a number of memorable contests for MU fans.

The two programs first met in the 1963 National Invitation Tournament and the result was a 70-64 victory by PC. The teams would cross paths four years later in the same event and a slim 81-80 Marquette overtime win helped the squad to a runner-up finish under head coach Al McGuire.

Since the teams began meeting in BIG EAST Conference action, series highlights include a game delayed at the Bradley Center when a bat continued to interrupt play on the court, a wet court at PC in 2016-17 that caused numerous stoppages in play, a league record-tying 52-point performance by Markus Howard in 2017-18 at Providence and multiple overtime results.

The teams split the home-and-home series in 2022-23, with each team winning on its home court. The Friars outlasted Marquette, 103-98, in double overtime on Dec. 20, 2022, despite a career-high 29 points from guard Tyler Kolek. MU earned an 83-75 win on Jan. 18, 2023 at Fiserv Forum, with Kam Jones leading four players in double figures with 21 points.

Non-Conference Play In The Books

Marquette played one of the more challenging non-league schedules in the country, posting a 9-2 record against a group that includes five teams currently ranked in the top-25.

The Golden Eagles' non-conference slate was highlighted by a win over then No. 1 Kansas and a victory at now No. x/x Illinois in the Gavitt Tip-Off Games.

Ighodaro Picks Up Scoring In Latest Wins

Forward Oso Ighodaro has led the team in scoring on three occasions this season, including each of the last two outings.

The Chandler, Arizona native chipped in 20.5 points per contest in the wins over Notre Dame and St. Thomas, combining to shoot 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the floor and 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) from the charity stripe. He also contributed 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in each of the last two outings.

Ighodaro is shooting 67.4 percent from the floor for the season, which ranks him first in the BIG EAST and sixth in the nation through games of Dec. 17.