#MUBB downs Providence, 91-69

Box Score (PDF)

MILWAUKEE – The No. 5/5 Marquette University men's basketball team had five players in double figures in a 91-69 win over Providence on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum.

Junior guard Kam Jones scored 17 points to lead the Golden Eagles (22-6, 13-4 BIG EAST), who secured a first round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament with their 13th league win. MU scored the game's first seven points and never looked back, eventually building a 27-4 lead over the first 9:22 of regulation.

Providence (18-10, 9-8 BIG EAST) was led in scoring by Devin Carter with 18 points, while Davonte Gaines added 15. The Friars were limited to 41.1 percent shooting from the floor (23-of-56) and forced into 15 turnovers. Carter had a game-high 22 points in the previous meeting with MU in December, while Gaines scored 18 on 5-of-10 shooting from deep.

NOTABLES:

Marquette's win guarantees a top-five finish in conference play and a bye in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament.
The win improved Marquette to 13-4 in the BIG EAST. This is the fourth year the Golden Eagles have had 13 BIG EAST wins in a single season, and the second year in a row under Shaka Smart.
Shaka Smart is the second coach in program history to have back-to-back seasons with at least 13 BIG EAST wins. The feat was also achieved in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
MU hit 14 3-pointers in the win, its second-highest total this season. Marquette hit 15 against DePaul on Jan. 24 and hit 14 on three other occasions.
MU's 3-point percentage of 53.8 (14-of-26) is a season high.
MU's field goal percentage of 56.9 (33-of-58) is its third-highest total of the season.
Marquette's 50 points in the first half is the highest total allowed by PC this season in a single half. MU scored just 57 points total in the Dec. 19 meeting in Providence.
In MU's 72-57 loss at PC, Marquette posted season lows in shooting percentage (32.1), field goals made (18) and 3-pointers (four).
It's the fourth time this season that the Golden Eagles have scored 50 points in a first half.
Tonight's game was the second time this season (St. Johns on Feb. 10), where Marquette had at least five players make multiple three-pointers.
PC's 24-point halftime deficit (50-26) is the largest faced by the Friars this season at the break, and only the third double-digit halftime deficit of the year. PC trailed St. John's by 11 at the half on Jan. 10 and Villanova by 10 on Feb. 4.
MU guard Chase Ross scored 12 points and knocked down a season-high three 3-pointers to tie a career-best, which was also recorded on March 9, 2023 in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Stevie Mitchell hit multiple 3-pointers for the fourth time in BIG EAST play this season and eighth overall in his career. He was 2-of-3 from deep and 5-of-6 from the floor overall to finish with 12 points.
MU has won each of its last three BIG EAST games by at least 20 points (105-71 over DePaul, 88-64 over Xavier and 91-69 tonight over PC), marking the first time it has happened since the Golden Eagles joined the league for the 2005-06 season.
MU's 22-point win is the largest loss by Providence this season.
MU's 28-point lead with 5:13 to play in the second half is the largest deficit faced in a game by PC this season (previous high was 26 against Villanova on Feb. 4).
Kolek now ranks 6th in all-time season assist with 214 assist, Aaron Hutchins is ranked 5th with 215 assist during the 1995-96 season.
Ben Gold matched a career-high with three blocks.
MU freshman guard Tre Norman set new career highs in points (eight), steals (two) and 3-pointers (two) in 18 minutes of action.

UP NEXT: Marquette travels to Omaha, Nebraska to take on No. 12 Creighton on Saturday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m. Central time on FOX.

Keep up with the Marquette men's basketball program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteMBB) and Instagram (@marquette.basketball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMensBB). Fans interested in tickets can contact the Marquette Ticket Office online or at 414-288-GOMU (4668).