MARQET

NOVA

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Tyler Kolek scores career-best 32 points to lead No. 9 Marquette past Villanova 85-80

AP
Jan 30, 2024

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) The Villanova hype man shouted into the microphone moments before tipoff that it was time for fans - Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright among them - to get pumped.

“We’ve got a top-10 team in the building Nova Nation,” he bellowed to mild applause.

There was indeed a top-10 team in the house.

Only it wasn't the home team ranked that high, once a familiar spot for Villanova for so many years under Wright. Long a national power, the Wildcats instead are floundering on their longest losing streak in 13 years.

Tyler Kolek hit five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 32 points to lead No. 9 Marquette to its fifth straight win, 85-80 over Villanova on Tuesday night.

The reigning Big East player of the year rallied the Golden Eagles (16-5, 7-3) after they squandered a 20-point cushion. With the Wildcats on fumes after a 34-10 run gave them the lead, Kolek connected on four 3s that sparked Marquette.

He made two straight for a 56-51 lead. Kolek, already a 1,000-point career scorer, hit another 3 for a 62-56 lead and one more for a seven-point lead that helped Marquette hold on for the tough road win.

Kolek was 10 of 20 from the floor and 7 of 8 at the free-throw line.

“When you have the best player on the court, you typically win,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said.

TJ Bamba and Eric Dixon led Villanova (11-10, 4-6) with 24 points apiece. Dixon hit a late 3 that made it 81-78 with 38 seconds left, only for Kolek to seal the win from the foul line.

With two national championships in the last decade suddenly not enough to soothe restless fans, the Wildcats have lost five straight games for the first time since the end of the 2011 season.

Villanova coach Kyle Neptune was lightly booed in pregame introductions by a fanbase that rarely turns on its own.

The Golden Eagles - who started Villanova’s skid with an 87-74 win two weeks ago - then piled on to the misery on the Main Line. Without a 3-pointer, Marquette took a 15-2 lead just 6 1/2 minutes into the game.

Neptune stuck his hands in his suit pockets and paced near the free-throw line as the Wildcats called a 30-second timeout to regroup. Marquette hit 11 of its first 14 shots and led by 15 on the way to opening a 37-17 advantage.

With Wright sitting just five rows off the court, Wildcats fans again booed as the game seemed poised to get out of reach. One Villanova student wore a T-shirt with “ Fire Neptune ” scrawled on the front.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Neptune said. “My job is to come out and prepare these guys the best I possibly can.”

Even with the losing streak, the Wildcats were 2 1/2-point favorites at tipoff, per FanDuel SportsBook. And they were still on the brink of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, as a last four out, per Bracketology.

“I think Kyle Neptune has done a heck of a job,” Smart said.

The Wildcats had some fight.

Mark Armstrong hit a twisting layup and buried a 3 at the horn that closed a 14-2 run to end the half and pulled the Wildcats within eight. Villanova erased the entire 20-point deficit to take a 48-47 lead early in the second.

BIG PICTURE

Marquette: The Golden Eagles have won three games on the road during their winning streak. They beat Villanova without Kam Jones (ankle), who averages 13.9 points per game. Tre Norman took a knee to the back of the head in the first half. Chase Ross gave Marquette a boost with 11 points in his first game since Jan. 6. He had been sidelined by a shoulder injury.

“For our guys to hang in there and stay tough in that last third of the game was huge,” Smart said.

Villanova: While the boos may rain on Neptune, the Wildcats may be wise to remember what happens when they preach patience. Wright didn't make the NCAA Tournament until his fourth season.

UP NEXT

Marquette plays Saturday at Georgetown.

Villanova hosts Providence on Sunday.

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1st Half
MARQ
Golden Eagles
39
NOVA
Wildcats
31

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Oso Ighodaro vs. Eric Dixon (Tyler Kolek gains possession)
19:29		David Joplin misses two point jump shot
19:27		Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound
19:22	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point dunk	2-0
19:01		Justin Moore misses three point jump shot
18:59		Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
18:30	+2	David Joplin makes two point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	4-0
17:59		Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot
17:57		Tyler Burton offensive rebound
17:53		Tyler Burton misses two point layup
17:51		Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
17:46	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point jump shot	6-0
17:29		Eric Dixon misses three point jump shot
17:27		David Joplin defensive rebound
17:15		Eric Dixon personal foul
17:07	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists)	8-0
16:44		Hakim Hart turnover (bad pass) (Oso Ighodaro steals)
16:37		Jordan Longino shooting foul (David Joplin draws the foul)
16:37		David Joplin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:37	+1	David Joplin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-0
16:05		Justin Moore misses two point layup
16:03		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
15:53		Oso Ighodaro turnover (bad pass)
15:53		TV timeout
15:34		Mark Armstrong misses two point jump shot
15:32		Chase Ross defensive rebound
15:25	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point dunk (Tyler Kolek assists)	11-0
14:58	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Jordan Longino assists)	11-2
14:51	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup	13-2
14:35		Justin Moore turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Kolek steals)
14:30	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup	15-2
14:29		Wildcats 30 second timeout
14:10	+2	TJ Bamba makes two point layup	15-4
13:59	+3	Chase Ross makes three point jump shot (Zaide Lowery assists)	18-4
13:27		Tyler Burton misses three point jump shot
13:25		Zaide Lowery defensive rebound
13:13		Oso Ighodaro turnover (lost ball) (Mark Armstrong steals)
13:07		TJ Bamba misses two point layup
13:05		Zaide Lowery defensive rebound
12:47		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
12:45		TJ Bamba defensive rebound
12:37		Mark Armstrong misses two point jump shot
12:35		TJ Bamba offensive rebound
12:16		Mark Armstrong turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Kolek steals)
12:12	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup	20-4
12:01	+2	Mark Armstrong makes two point layup	20-6
11:38	+3	Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (David Joplin assists)	23-6
11:06	+3	TJ Bamba makes three point jump shot (Mark Armstrong assists)	23-9
10:39		Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
10:37		Wildcats defensive rebound
10:36		TV timeout
10:06		Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation)
9:52	+3	Chase Ross makes three point jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	26-9
9:26		Jump ball. (Wildcats gains possession)
9:26		Tre Norman personal foul (Brendan Hausen draws the foul)
9:18		Mark Armstrong misses two point layup
9:16		Tre Norman defensive rebound
9:12		Tre Norman turnover (lost ball) (Mark Armstrong steals)
9:07	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Jordan Longino assists)	26-11
8:57		Tyler Kolek misses two point layup
8:55		Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound
8:55		Jordan Longino shooting foul (Oso Ighodaro draws the foul)
8:55	+1	Oso Ighodaro makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-11
8:55	+1	Oso Ighodaro makes regular free throw 2 of 2	28-11
8:37		Hakim Hart misses three point jump shot
8:35		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
8:25		Stevie Mitchell misses three point jump shot
8:23		Justin Moore defensive rebound
8:02		Mark Armstrong misses three point jump shot
8:00		Chase Ross defensive rebound
7:40	+2	Tyler Kolek makes two point layup (Stevie Mitchell assists)	30-11
7:19	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Mark Armstrong assists)	30-13
7:05		TV timeout
7:03	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists)	32-13
6:36	+2	TJ Bamba makes two point jump shot	32-15
6:16	+2	Chase Ross makes two point jump shot	34-15
5:52		Brendan Hausen misses three point jump shot
5:50		Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
5:37		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
5:35		Tyler Burton defensive rebound
5:20		Stevie Mitchell shooting foul (TJ Bamba draws the foul)
5:20	+1	TJ Bamba makes regular free throw 1 of 2	34-16
5:20	+1	TJ Bamba makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-17
5:00	+3	Ben Gold makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	37-17
4:46	+3	TJ Bamba makes three point jump shot (Justin Moore assists)	37-20
4:36		Tyler Kolek turnover (bad pass)
4:22		Zaide Lowery personal foul (Eric Dixon draws the foul)
4:13		TJ Bamba misses three point jump shot
4:11		Ben Gold defensive rebound
3:53		Tyler Kolek turnover (lost ball)
3:53		TV timeout
3:38		Chase Ross shooting foul (Tyler Burton draws the foul)
3:38	+1	Tyler Burton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-21
3:38	+1	Tyler Burton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-22
3:20		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
3:18		Mark Armstrong defensive rebound
3:12	+2	Mark Armstrong makes two point layup	37-24
3:10		Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
3:05		TJ Bamba personal foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
2:39		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
2:37		Mark Armstrong defensive rebound
2:30		Justin Moore misses three point jump shot
2:28		Wildcats offensive rebound
2:18	+2	Brendan Hausen makes two point jump shot (Tyler Burton assists)	37-26
2:04		Tyler Burton personal foul
1:55		Eric Dixon blocks Tyler Kolek's two point layup
1:53		Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound
1:50		Oso Ighodaro misses two point layup
1:48		Mark Armstrong defensive rebound
1:45	+2	Mark Armstrong makes two point layup	37-28
1:30		Mark Armstrong personal foul
1:29		Oso Ighodaro misses two point jump shot
1:27		Tyler Burton defensive rebound
1:15		Mark Armstrong misses three point jump shot
1:13		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
1:02	+2	David Joplin makes two point jump shot	39-28
0:42		Brendan Hausen misses three point jump shot
0:40		Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
0:16		David Joplin misses two point jump shot
0:14		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
0:02	+3	Mark Armstrong makes three point jump shot	39-31
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MARQ
Golden Eagles
46
NOVA
Wildcats
49

Time		Play	Score
19:33	+3	Mark Armstrong makes three point jump shot (Justin Moore assists)	39-34
19:20	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point dunk (Tyler Kolek assists)	41-34
19:06		Ben Gold personal foul (Tyler Burton draws the foul)
19:03	+3	TJ Bamba makes three point jump shot (Justin Moore assists)	41-37
18:48	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup	43-37
18:48		TJ Bamba shooting foul (Stevie Mitchell draws the foul)
18:48	+1	Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1	44-37
18:38		Eric Dixon misses two point layup
18:36		Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
18:10	+3	David Joplin makes three point jump shot (Chase Ross assists)	47-37
17:55		TJ Bamba misses three point jump shot
17:53		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
17:46		David Joplin misses three point jump shot
17:44		Tyler Burton defensive rebound
17:39	+3	Justin Moore makes three point jump shot (TJ Bamba assists)	47-40
17:39		Tyler Kolek shooting foul (Justin Moore draws the foul)
17:39	+1	Justin Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 1	47-41
17:19		David Joplin turnover (traveling)
16:52		Mark Armstrong misses three point jump shot
16:50		Chase Ross defensive rebound
16:33		Tyler Kolek misses two point jump shot
16:31		Mark Armstrong defensive rebound
16:21	+3	Tyler Burton makes three point jump shot (Justin Moore assists)	47-44
15:57		David Joplin turnover (lost ball) (Justin Moore steals)
15:51	+2	Justin Moore makes two point layup	47-46
15:50		Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
15:50		TV timeout
15:24		Tyler Kolek misses two point layup
15:22		Mark Armstrong defensive rebound
15:11	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Tyler Burton assists)	47-48
14:42		Chase Ross misses two point jump shot
14:40		Tyler Burton defensive rebound
14:39		Chase Ross personal foul (TJ Bamba draws the foul)
14:39		TV timeout
14:31		Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot
14:29		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
14:10		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
14:08		Mark Armstrong defensive rebound
13:59		Mark Armstrong misses two point layup
13:57		Mark Armstrong offensive rebound
13:54		Mark Armstrong misses two point layup
13:52		Mark Armstrong offensive rebound
13:50		Hakim Hart misses three point jump shot
13:48		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
13:46		Eric Dixon personal foul
13:39		Hakim Hart personal foul
13:30		Tyler Kolek misses two point layup
13:28		Lance Ware defensive rebound
13:28		Stevie Mitchell personal foul
13:11	+3	Tyler Burton makes three point jump shot (Justin Moore assists)	47-51
12:42		Tyler Burton shooting foul (Chase Ross draws the foul)
12:42	+1	Chase Ross makes regular free throw 1 of 3	48-51
12:42	+1	Chase Ross makes regular free throw 2 of 3	49-51
12:42	+1	Chase Ross makes regular free throw 3 of 3	50-51
12:27		Tyler Burton misses three point jump shot
12:25		Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
12:16		Justin Moore personal foul
12:10		Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
12:08		Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound
12:03	+3	Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (Zaide Lowery assists)	53-51
11:32		Jordan Longino misses three point jump shot
11:30		Tyler Burton offensive rebound
11:19		Jordan Longino misses two point layup
11:17		David Joplin defensive rebound
11:07	+3	Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (David Joplin assists)	56-51
11:03		Wildcats 30 second timeout
11:03		TV timeout
10:42	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Brendan Hausen assists)	56-53
10:25	+3	David Joplin makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	59-53
10:06	+3	TJ Bamba makes three point jump shot (Justin Moore assists)	59-56
9:44	+3	Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot	62-56
9:17		Zaide Lowery shooting foul (Mark Armstrong draws the foul)
9:17	+1	Mark Armstrong makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-57
9:17	+1	Mark Armstrong makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-58
9:09	+3	Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot	65-58
8:51		Mark Armstrong misses two point layup
8:49		Eric Dixon offensive rebound
8:47		Eric Dixon misses two point layup
8:45		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
8:18		Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
8:16		Golden Eagles offensive rebound
8:16		Golden Eagles turnover (shot clock violation)
7:49		Oso Ighodaro blocks Eric Dixon's three point jump shot
7:47		Chase Ross defensive rebound
7:44		Chase Ross turnover (lost ball)
7:44		TV timeout
7:42		Mark Armstrong turnover (bad pass) (Chase Ross steals)
7:27	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point dunk (Tyler Kolek assists)	67-58
7:18		Oso Ighodaro shooting foul (TJ Bamba draws the foul)
7:18	+1	TJ Bamba makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-59
7:18	+1	TJ Bamba makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-60
6:59		Tyler Burton shooting foul (Oso Ighodaro draws the foul)
6:59	+1	Oso Ighodaro makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-60
6:59	+1	Oso Ighodaro makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-60
6:42		TJ Bamba misses two point layup
6:40		Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
6:29		Tyler Burton shooting foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
6:29	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-60
6:29	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 2 of 2	71-60
6:14		David Joplin blocks TJ Bamba's three point jump shot
6:12		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
6:12		Eric Dixon personal foul (Oso Ighodaro draws the foul)
6:12	+1	Oso Ighodaro makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-60
6:12		Oso Ighodaro misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:12		Justin Moore defensive rebound
6:06		David Joplin shooting foul (Mark Armstrong draws the foul)
6:06	+1	Mark Armstrong makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-61
6:06	+1	Mark Armstrong makes regular free throw 2 of 2	72-62
5:48		Oso Ighodaro misses two point jump shot
5:46		Wildcats defensive rebound
5:37	+3	Eric Dixon makes three point jump shot (TJ Bamba assists)	72-65
5:21		Chase Ross misses three point jump shot
5:19		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
5:19		Oso Ighodaro personal foul (Eric Dixon draws the foul)
5:19	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-66
5:19	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	72-67
5:05		Mark Armstrong blocks Tyler Kolek's two point layup
5:03		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
4:50		Hakim Hart turnover (lost ball) (Stevie Mitchell steals)
4:44		Brendan Hausen personal foul (Stevie Mitchell draws the foul)
4:44		Stevie Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:44		Hakim Hart defensive rebound
4:35		Zaide Lowery shooting foul (Eric Dixon draws the foul)
4:35	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-68
4:35	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	72-69
4:13		Tyler Kolek misses two point jump shot
4:11		Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound
4:03		David Joplin misses two point jump shot
4:01		Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound
4:01		TJ Bamba personal foul (Stevie Mitchell draws the foul)
4:01		Stevie Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:01	+1	Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-69
3:53		Chase Ross blocks TJ Bamba's two point dunk
3:51		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
3:36		Justin Moore personal foul
3:36		TV timeout
3:36		David Joplin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:36		David Joplin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:36		Brendan Hausen defensive rebound
3:23		Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot
3:21		David Joplin defensive rebound
2:57		Brendan Hausen personal foul (Stevie Mitchell draws the foul)
2:57	+1	Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-69
2:57	+1	Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	75-69
2:44		Justin Moore misses three point jump shot
2:42		Golden Eagles defensive rebound
2:25		Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
2:23		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
2:13	+2	TJ Bamba makes two point layup	75-71
1:43		Tyler Burton blocks Oso Ighodaro's two point layup
1:41		Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound
1:37	+2	Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup	77-71
1:22		David Joplin blocks Eric Dixon's two point layup
1:20		Wildcats offensive rebound
1:17		Oso Ighodaro personal foul (Eric Dixon draws the foul)
1:17	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-72
1:17	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	77-73
1:05	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	79-73
0:50		Mark Armstrong misses two point layup
0:48		Eric Dixon offensive rebound
0:46	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup	79-75
0:46		Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:46		Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
0:44		Justin Moore personal foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
0:44	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-75
0:44	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 2 of 2	81-75
0:38	+3	Eric Dixon makes three point jump shot (Mark Armstrong assists)	81-78
0:32		Mark Armstrong personal foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
0:32	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 1 of 2	82-78
0:32	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 2 of 2	83-78
0:28		Mark Armstrong misses three point jump shot
0:26		Justin Moore offensive rebound
0:21		Mark Armstrong misses three point jump shot
0:19		David Joplin defensive rebound
0:19		TJ Bamba personal foul (David Joplin draws the foul)
0:19	+1	David Joplin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	84-78
0:19		David Joplin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:19		TJ Bamba defensive rebound
0:07	+2	TJ Bamba makes two point layup (Eric Dixon assists)	84-80
0:07		Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:07		Golden Eagles 60 second timeout
0:06		Chase Ross turnover (bad pass) (TJ Bamba steals)
0:04		TJ Bamba turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Kolek steals)
0:03		Tyler Burton personal foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
0:03		Tyler Kolek misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:03	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 2 of 2	85-80
0:02		Mark Armstrong misses three point jump shot
0:00		Wildcats offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Wildcats offensive rebound