WKY

MARQET

March Madness: Jones, Kolek lead No. 2 seed Marquette past No. 15 seed Western Kentucky 87-69

AP
Mar 23, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Kam Jones scored 28 points and Tyler Kolek made a successful return from an oblique injury, helping No. 2 seed Marquette Golden Eagles rally for an 87-69 victory over No. 15 seed Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

The Golden Eagles (26-9) trailed 43-36 at halftime, but they overwhelmed the Hilltoppers in the second half. They used a 15-2 run to open an 87-67 cushion on the way to their second consecutive first-round NCAA victory.

Jones scored 18 in the second half. Kolek finished with 18 points and 11 assists in his first game since Feb. 28.

Next up for Marquette is the Florida-Colorado winner on Sunday in the second round of the South Region. The Golden Eagles are going for the program's first Sweet 16 berth since 2013.

Tyrone Marshall scored a career-high 21 points for WKU (22-12), which seized momentum from Marquette midway through the first half in its first NCAA appearance since 2013.

Jones made 5 of 10 from long range and 10 of 16 overall, and Kolek was 7 of 13 with a pair from long range. Those 3s came on his first two shots, adding to the boost he provided with his presence alone.

Marquette was up 28-19 with 7:52 left in the first half when Western Kentucky started to take over. Kentucky transfer Dontaie Allen entered and quickly sank consecutive 3s 42 seconds apart, and Marshall added two as the 'Toppers surged into the break.

---

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

1st Half
WKU
Hilltoppers
43
MARQ
Golden Eagles
36

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Hilltoppers gains possession)
19:54		Stevie Mitchell blocks Brandon Newman's two point jump shot
19:52		Brandon Newman offensive rebound
19:52		Oso Ighodaro blocks Brandon Newman's two point layup
19:50		Brandon Newman offensive rebound
19:50		David Joplin blocks Brandon Newman's two point layup
19:48		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
19:40		Stevie Mitchell misses two point jump shot
19:38		Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound
19:35	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup	0-2
19:19	+2	Babacar Faye makes two point layup (Tyrone Marshall Jr. assists)	2-2
19:07		Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
19:05		Tyrone Marshall Jr. defensive rebound
18:56	+3	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes three point jump shot (Brandon Newman assists)	5-2
18:40		Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
18:38		Babacar Faye defensive rebound
18:20		Khristian Lander misses three point jump shot
18:18		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
18:09		Stevie Mitchell misses three point jump shot
18:07		Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound
18:04	+3	Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	5-5
17:44		Brandon Newman misses two point jump shot
17:42		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
17:38		Khristian Lander personal foul
17:29		Oso Ighodaro turnover (traveling)
17:18		Teagan Moore misses two point jump shot
17:16		Kam Jones defensive rebound
17:09	+3	Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	5-8
16:52		Babacar Faye offensive foul
16:52		Babacar Faye turnover (offensive foul)
16:42		Tyler Kolek turnover (Rodney Howard steals)
16:36	+2	Rodney Howard makes two point layup (Tyrone Marshall Jr. assists)	7-8
16:13		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
16:11		David Joplin offensive rebound
16:07		Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
16:05		Rodney Howard defensive rebound
15:56		David Joplin shooting foul (Tyrone Marshall Jr. draws the foul)
15:56		TV timeout
15:56		Tyrone Marshall Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:56	+1	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	8-8
15:39	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup (Stevie Mitchell assists)	8-10
15:21		Oso Ighodaro blocks Rodney Howard's two point layup
15:19		Hilltoppers offensive rebound
15:16		Khristian Lander misses three point jump shot
15:14		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
15:05		Kam Jones misses two point layup
15:03		Tyrone Marshall Jr. defensive rebound
14:58		Rodney Howard turnover (traveling)
14:40		Teagan Moore shooting foul (Stevie Mitchell draws the foul)
14:40		Stevie Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:40	+1	Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	8-11
14:30	+2	Khristian Lander makes two point layup	10-11
14:08		Dontaie Allen blocks Chase Ross's two point layup
14:06		Golden Eagles offensive rebound
14:04		Oso Ighodaro offensive foul
14:04		Oso Ighodaro turnover (offensive foul)
13:46		Enoch Kalambay turnover (traveling)
13:32		Tre Norman misses three point jump shot
13:30		Rodney Howard defensive rebound
13:21		Khristian Lander turnover (Chase Ross steals)
13:16		Teagan Moore shooting foul (Tre Norman draws the foul)
13:16		Tre Norman misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:16		Tre Norman misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:16		Rodney Howard defensive rebound
12:59		Dontaie Allen offensive foul
12:59		Dontaie Allen turnover (offensive foul)
12:38	+2	Kam Jones makes two point layup	10-13
12:38		Brandon Newman shooting foul (Kam Jones draws the foul)
12:38		Kam Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:38		Enoch Kalambay defensive rebound
12:14		Ben Gold blocks Rodney Howard's two point hook shot
12:12		Enoch Kalambay offensive rebound
12:11	+2	Enoch Kalambay makes two point layup	12-13
12:00		Kam Jones turnover (traveling)
12:07		TV timeout
12:00		Enoch Kalambay turnover
11:42	+3	David Joplin makes three point jump shot	12-16
11:25		Babacar Faye turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Kolek steals)
11:21	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup	12-18
11:11		Don McHenry misses three point jump shot
11:09		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
11:05		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
11:03		Brandon Newman defensive rebound
10:53		Don McHenry turnover (lost ball)
10:40	+2	Kam Jones makes two point layup (David Joplin assists)	12-20
10:19	+3	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes three point jump shot (Khristian Lander assists)	15-20
10:03		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
10:01		Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound
9:53		Kam Jones turnover
9:45	+2	Babacar Faye makes two point layup (Tyrone Marshall Jr. assists)	17-20
9:29	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point layup	17-22
9:13		Brandon Newman turnover (Stevie Mitchell steals)
9:06	+3	Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Stevie Mitchell assists)	17-25
9:04		Hilltoppers 30 second timeout
9:04		TV timeout
8:55		Stevie Mitchell blocks Khristian Lander's two point layup
8:53		Khristian Lander offensive rebound
8:49		Brandon Newman misses two point jump shot
8:47		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
8:33		Khristian Lander personal foul (Kam Jones draws the foul)
8:33	+1	Kam Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-26
8:33		Kam Jones misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:33		Jack Edelen defensive rebound
8:24		Zaide Lowery personal foul
8:01	+2	Jack Edelen makes two point jump shot (Don McHenry assists)	19-26
7:52		Jack Edelen shooting foul
7:52		TV timeout
7:52	+1	Kam Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	19-27
7:52	+1	Kam Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-28
7:45	+3	Dontaie Allen makes three point jump shot (Tyrone Marshall Jr. assists)	22-28
7:31		Jump ball. (Golden Eagles gains possession)
7:16		Oso Ighodaro misses two point hook shot
7:14		Tyrone Marshall Jr. defensive rebound
7:04	+3	Dontaie Allen makes three point jump shot (Don McHenry assists)	25-28
6:52	+3	Ben Gold makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	25-31
6:33	+3	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jack Edelen assists)	28-31
6:21		Jack Edelen personal foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
6:21		Tyler Kolek misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:21		David Joplin offensive rebound
6:18		Tyrone Marshall Jr. blocks David Joplin's two point layup
6:16		Don McHenry defensive rebound
6:12		Don McHenry misses two point jump shot
6:10		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
6:00		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
5:58		Rodney Howard defensive rebound
5:38		Tyrone Marshall Jr. misses three point jump shot
5:36		Ben Gold defensive rebound
5:20		Tyrone Marshall Jr. blocks Oso Ighodaro's two point dunk
5:18		Don McHenry defensive rebound
5:05		Tyrone Marshall Jr. misses two point jump shot
5:03		Tyrone Marshall Jr. offensive rebound
5:00	+2	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes two point layup	30-31
4:47		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
4:45		Don McHenry defensive rebound
4:33	+2	Don McHenry makes two point jump shot	32-31
4:27		Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
4:27		TV timeout
4:04		Chase Ross misses three point jump shot
4:02		Don McHenry defensive rebound
4:00		Stevie Mitchell personal foul
3:47	+2	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes two point layup (Babacar Faye assists)	34-31
3:30	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup (Stevie Mitchell assists)	34-33
3:09		Don McHenry misses two point layup
3:07		Don McHenry offensive rebound
3:04	+2	Don McHenry makes two point layup	36-33
2:49		Chase Ross turnover (Babacar Faye steals)
2:40		Don McHenry misses two point layup
2:38		Babacar Faye offensive rebound
2:33		Tyrone Marshall Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Chase Ross steals)
2:30		Stevie Mitchell turnover (bad pass) (Dontaie Allen steals)
2:26	+3	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jack Edelen assists)	39-33
2:11		Tyler Kolek turnover (bad pass) (Enoch Kalambay steals)
2:08		Ben Gold shooting foul
2:08	+1	Enoch Kalambay makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-33
2:08	+1	Enoch Kalambay makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-33
2:00		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
1:58		Rodney Howard defensive rebound
1:40	+2	Rodney Howard makes two point hook shot (Tyrone Marshall Jr. assists)	43-33
1:28		Stevie Mitchell misses three point jump shot
1:26		Tyler Kolek offensive rebound
1:23		Enoch Kalambay shooting foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
1:23	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 1 of 2	43-34
1:23		Tyler Kolek misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:23		Enoch Kalambay defensive rebound
0:56		Don McHenry turnover
0:45		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
0:43		Tyrone Marshall Jr. defensive rebound
0:14		Oso Ighodaro blocks Don McHenry's three point jump shot
0:12		Kam Jones defensive rebound
0:04	+2	Ben Gold makes two point jump shot (Kam Jones assists)	43-36
0:00		Tyrone Marshall Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:00		Hilltoppers offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
WKU
Hilltoppers
26
MARQ
Golden Eagles
51

Time		Play	Score
19:36		Tyrone Marshall Jr. misses two point jump shot
19:34		David Joplin defensive rebound
19:19		Tyler Kolek misses two point jump shot
19:17		David Joplin offensive rebound
19:12	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup (David Joplin assists)	43-38
18:58	+3	Khristian Lander makes three point jump shot (Brandon Newman assists)	46-38
18:44	+3	Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (David Joplin assists)	46-41
18:25		Brandon Newman misses two point jump shot
18:23		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
18:09	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point dunk (Tyler Kolek assists)	46-43
17:53		Jump ball. Don McHenry vs. David Joplin (David Joplin gains possession)
17:53		Don McHenry turnover (lost ball) (David Joplin steals)
17:44		Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
17:42		Tyrone Marshall Jr. defensive rebound
17:32		Brandon Newman misses three point jump shot
17:30		Babacar Faye offensive rebound
17:25	+2	Babacar Faye makes two point layup	48-43
17:04		Tyler Kolek misses two point layup
17:02		Don McHenry defensive rebound
16:58		Don McHenry turnover (lost ball) (Stevie Mitchell steals)
16:52	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup	48-45
16:52		Brandon Newman shooting foul (Stevie Mitchell draws the foul)
16:52	+1	Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1	48-46
16:40		Stevie Mitchell blocks Teagan Moore's two point jump shot
16:40		Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
16:34	+2	David Joplin makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists)	48-48
16:33		Hilltoppers 30 second timeout
16:33		TV timeout
16:10		Khristian Lander misses two point jump shot
16:08		Khristian Lander offensive rebound
15:51		Khristian Lander misses two point jump shot
15:49		David Joplin defensive rebound
15:41	+2	Kam Jones makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists)	48-50
15:21		Oso Ighodaro blocks Rodney Howard's two point layup
15:21		Hilltoppers offensive rebound
15:21		TV timeout
15:15		Don McHenry misses three point jump shot
15:13		David Joplin defensive rebound
14:53		Teagan Moore blocks Oso Ighodaro's two point layup
14:51		Don McHenry defensive rebound
14:46		Tyrone Marshall Jr. misses two point dunk
14:44		David Joplin defensive rebound
14:34	+3	David Joplin makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	48-53
14:10		Tyler Kolek shooting foul (Teagan Moore draws the foul)
14:10	+1	Teagan Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-53
14:10	+1	Teagan Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-53
13:58	+2	Kam Jones makes two point jump shot	50-55
13:47		Khristian Lander turnover (bad pass)
13:40		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
13:38		Teagan Moore defensive rebound
13:28		Teagan Moore turnover (traveling)
13:12		Oso Ighodaro misses two point jump shot
13:10		Enoch Kalambay defensive rebound
13:02		Enoch Kalambay misses two point jump shot
13:00		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
12:59		Rodney Howard personal foul
12:36		Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
12:34		Teagan Moore defensive rebound
12:25		David Joplin blocks Enoch Kalambay's two point layup
12:23		Rodney Howard offensive rebound
12:20	+2	Rodney Howard makes two point layup	52-55
12:20		Kam Jones turnover
12:17		Tyler Kolek personal foul
12:01		Don McHenry misses two point jump shot
11:59		Jack Edelen offensive rebound
11:55	+3	Don McHenry makes three point jump shot (Jack Edelen assists)	55-55
11:26	+3	Ben Gold makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	55-58
11:08		Don McHenry misses two point jump shot
11:06		Chase Ross defensive rebound
10:42		Tyler Kolek turnover (bad pass) (Dontaie Allen steals)
10:35		Dontaie Allen misses three point jump shot
10:33		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
10:22		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
10:20		Dontaie Allen defensive rebound
10:12		Don McHenry misses three point jump shot
10:10		Ben Gold defensive rebound
9:56	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup (Ben Gold assists)	55-60
9:56		Don McHenry shooting foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
9:56		TV timeout
9:56	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 1 of 1	55-61
9:48		Jack Edelen turnover (bad pass) (Stevie Mitchell steals)
9:44		Jack Edelen personal foul
9:27		Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
9:25		Tyler Kolek offensive rebound
9:20		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
9:18		Babacar Faye defensive rebound
9:09	+2	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes two point layup (Dontaie Allen assists)	57-61
8:58	+2	Kam Jones makes two point layup	57-63
8:41	+2	Don McHenry makes two point jump shot (Khristian Lander assists)	59-63
8:32	+3	Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	59-66
8:14		Kam Jones personal foul
7:58	+2	Tyrone Marshall Jr. makes two point layup	61-66
7:47	+3	Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	61-69
7:19		Brandon Newman misses three point jump shot
7:17		David Joplin defensive rebound
6:55		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
6:53		Khristian Lander defensive rebound
6:45	+2	Khristian Lander makes two point jump shot	63-69
6:27		Oso Ighodaro misses two point hook shot
6:25		Babacar Faye defensive rebound
6:15		Khristian Lander misses three point jump shot
6:13		David Joplin defensive rebound
6:02		Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
6:00		Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound
5:59	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup	63-71
5:59		Enoch Kalambay shooting foul (Stevie Mitchell draws the foul)
5:59		TV timeout
5:59	+1	Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1	63-72
5:41	+2	Enoch Kalambay makes two point layup	65-72
5:11	+3	David Joplin makes three point jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	65-75
4:45		Khristian Lander misses three point jump shot
4:43		David Joplin defensive rebound
4:28		Tyler Kolek misses two point layup
4:26		Rodney Howard defensive rebound
4:22		Rodney Howard turnover (lost ball) (Tyler Kolek steals)
4:19	+3	Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	65-78
4:19		Hilltoppers 30 second timeout
4:19		TV timeout
4:03	+2	Don McHenry makes two point jump shot	67-78
3:28	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup	67-80
3:17		Stevie Mitchell personal foul
3:06		Dontaie Allen misses three point jump shot
3:04		Don McHenry offensive rebound
2:59		Don McHenry misses three point jump shot
2:57		Golden Eagles defensive rebound
2:36		Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
2:34		David Joplin offensive rebound
2:29	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	67-82
2:16		Don McHenry turnover (bad pass) (Kam Jones steals)
2:11	+2	David Joplin makes two point layup (Kam Jones assists)	67-84
2:04		Hilltoppers 30 second timeout
1:50		Oso Ighodaro blocks Teagan Moore's two point jump shot
1:48		Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
1:18	+3	Stevie Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	67-87
1:14		Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
0:51	+2	Jack Edelen makes two point layup (Jaylen Dorsey assists)	69-87
0:32		Cameron Brown misses two point jump shot
0:30		Teagan Moore defensive rebound
0:14		Tyler Olden misses three point jump shot
0:12		Jack Riley defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Jack Riley defensive rebound