No. 8/7 #MUBB Hosts No. 12/16 Texas In BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle

The No. 8/7 Marquette University men's basketball team (6-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) continues its non-conference schedule on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. CT when the squad hosts No. 12/16 Texas (6-1, 0-0 Big 12) in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. FS1 features the television coverage, with Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (analyst) calling the action. Following Wednesday's outing, the Golden Eagles will continue their three-game homestand against Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. CT to conclude a home-and-home series with the Fighting Irish.

BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle In Fifth Year

The Big 12 Conference and BIG EAST Conference scheduling alliance is in its fifth year, with games in 2023-24 played Nov. 30-Dec. 5.

With each conference adding member schools since the start of the original agreement, the Battle increases from 10 to 11 matchups for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. The Big 12 will host six games in 2023-24 while the BIG EAST will host six the following season.

Marquette is 3-1 in the series, most recently defeating No. 6 Baylor, 96-70, on Nov. 29, 2022 in Fiserv Forum. MU has also earned a pair of victories against Kansas State.

The Battle matchups are jointly determined by the two conferences, with the home team choosing the venue of its game.

Lone Matchup With Texas Came In 1977-78

Marquette and Texas have met just once in program history, a 65-56 win by MU in the championship game of the Milwaukee Classic on Dec. 27, 1977.

Jerome Whitehead led the way for Marquette, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Jim Boylan chipped in 17 points and seven assists.

Marquette head coach Shaka Smart compiled a 109-86 record at UT in six seasons (2015-21), leading the Longhorns to four postseason appearances. Along with Smart, six other members of the coaching staff also spent time at Texas.

Kam Jones Improves Offensive Efficiency

Junior guard Kam Jones scored a team-high 19 points at Wisconsin on Saturday and has reached double figures in scoring in all eight outings this year.

The Memphis native is averaging 16.4 points per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor overall and 42.2 percent from behind the 3-point line. He tops the roster in scoring in just 26 minutes per contest and is 18-of-23 from the free throw line.

Jones, who attempted just over one free throw per game his first two years, is getting to the line more frequently early in 2023-24 and has knocked down 78.3 percent of his chances after shooting just 65.6 percent (40-of-61) in 2022-23.

Jones (902) is on pace to become the 51st player in Marquette history with 1,000 career points.