Karaban leads UConn to 72-66 win over No. 20 Marquette
AP
Mar 05, 2025
STORRS, Conn. (AP) Alex Karaban scored 21 points, including a pivotal 3-pointer with 23.7 seconds left, and UConn defeated No. 20 Marquette Golden Eagles 72-66 on Wednesday night.
Liam McNeeley had 11 points and Samson Johnson added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies (21-9, 13-6 Big East), who pulled into a tie with Marquette for third place in the conference standings.
UConn owns the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series.
Solo Ball and Hassan Diarra each scored 10 points as the two-time defending NCAA champions beat Marquette for the fifth straight time.
David Joplin had 23 points and Kam Jones scored 21 for the Golden Eagles (22-8, 13-6).
UConn ripped off 10 straight points with dunks by Jaylin Stewart, Tarris Reed Jr. and Johnson to take a 61-54 lead with 7:49 remaining.
The opening tip was delayed by 22 minutes as a result of facility issues, according to a statement from UConn.
Marquette: Unless they get some unexpected help this weekend, the Golden Eagles appear headed for a 4-5 matchup with Xavier in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament next week at Madison Square Garden.
UConn: Karaban, Johnson and Diarra showed their experience and winning pedigree down the stretch as coach Dan Hurley's team gears up for another postseason run.
With the Huskies clinging to a one-point lead, Karaban took a pass from Reed and drained a 3 that gave them a 70-66 cushion. Diarra added two late free throws and UConn improved to 5-2 against ranked teams this season.
UConn outrebounded the Golden Eagles 44-29, including 19-8 on the offensive glass, and held them to 3-for-22 shooting (13.6%) from 3-point range.
UConn wraps up the regular season Saturday at home against last-place Seton Hall. Marquette hosts No. 6 St. John’s, which has already clinched the Big East title.
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1st Half
MARQ
Golden Eagles
37
UCONN
Huskies
33
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Ben Gold vs. Samson Johnson (Golden Eagles gains possession)
19:45
+2
David Joplin makes two point layup
2-0
19:19
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
19:17
Huskies offensive rebound
19:07
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
19:05
Hassan Diarra offensive rebound
19:01
+2
Hassan Diarra makes two point jump shot
2-2
18:41
+3
David Joplin makes three point jump shot (Chase Ross assists)
5-2
18:17
Liam McNeeley turnover (bad pass) (Chase Ross steals)
17:51
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
17:49
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
17:41
+3
Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Hassan Diarra assists)
5-5
17:28
Alex Karaban blocks Chase Ross's two point layup
17:26
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
17:11
Liam McNeeley turnover (lost ball) (Kam Jones steals)
17:04
+2
Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup
7-5
16:37
Kam Jones blocks Solo Ball's two point jump shot
16:35
Huskies offensive rebound
16:33
Alex Karaban misses two point jump shot
16:31
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
16:24
+2
Samson Johnson makes two point layup
7-7
16:16
+2
Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup
9-7
15:58
+2
Solo Ball makes two point dunk (Hassan Diarra assists)
9-9
15:44
Solo Ball blocks Kam Jones's two point layup
15:42
Solo Ball defensive rebound
15:27
Samson Johnson offensive foul (Kam Jones draws the foul)
15:27
Samson Johnson turnover (offensive foul)
15:27
TV timeout
15:13
+2
David Joplin makes two point layup (Kam Jones assists)
11-9
14:48
Tarris Reed Jr. misses two point layup
14:46
Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
14:26
Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
14:24
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
14:12
Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass) (Kam Jones steals)
14:06
Kam Jones offensive foul (Solo Ball draws the foul)
14:06
Kam Jones turnover (offensive foul)
13:48
+3
Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Solo Ball assists)
11-12
13:34
Chase Ross turnover (bad pass)
13:23
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
13:21
Tre Norman defensive rebound
13:13
Tre Norman misses three point jump shot
13:11
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
12:53
+2
Hassan Diarra makes two point layup
11-14
12:35
Tre Norman turnover (lost ball) (Hassan Diarra steals)
12:27
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
12:25
David Joplin defensive rebound
12:20
+2
Ben Gold makes two point dunk
13-14
12:20
Tarris Reed Jr. shooting foul (Ben Gold draws the foul)
12:20
+1
Ben Gold makes regular free throw 1 of 1
14-14
12:02
+3
Solo Ball makes three point jump shot
14-17
11:43
Royce Parham misses three point jump shot
11:41
Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound
11:33
Alex Karaban misses two point layup
11:31
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
11:31
Damarius Owens personal foul (Samson Johnson draws the foul)
11:31
TV timeout
11:12
+2
Jaylin Stewart makes two point jump shot (Solo Ball assists)
14-19
10:56
+2
Kam Jones makes two point layup
16-19
10:32
+2
Samson Johnson makes two point dunk (Solo Ball assists)
16-21
10:04
+2
David Joplin makes two point jump shot
18-21
9:36
+2
Aidan Mahaney makes two point jump shot
18-23
9:25
+2
Kam Jones makes two point layup
20-23
9:06
Jaylin Stewart misses two point jump shot
9:04
Royce Parham defensive rebound
8:51
+2
Kam Jones makes two point layup
22-23
8:27
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point dunk (Samson Johnson assists)
22-25
8:12
Damarius Owens misses three point jump shot
8:10
Samson Johnson defensive rebound
7:53
David Joplin blocks Alex Karaban's two point layup
7:51
David Joplin defensive rebound
7:47
David Joplin turnover (out of bounds)
7:47
TV timeout
7:30
+3
Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Hassan Diarra assists)
22-28
7:06
Zaide Lowery misses three point jump shot
7:04
Hassan Diarra defensive rebound
6:48
Zaide Lowery personal foul (Aidan Mahaney draws the foul)
6:32
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
6:30
Ben Gold defensive rebound
6:20
Hassan Diarra shooting foul (Kam Jones draws the foul)
6:20
Kam Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:20
Kam Jones misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:20
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
6:10
Hassan Diarra turnover (double dribble)
5:53
+2
Chase Ross makes two point layup
24-28
5:28
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
5:26
Chase Ross defensive rebound
5:21
+2
Chase Ross makes two point layup
26-28
5:11
Huskies 30 second timeout
4:59
+2
Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point layup (Liam McNeeley assists)
26-30
4:39
Chase Ross misses three point jump shot
4:37
Zaide Lowery offensive rebound
4:32
Chase Ross misses three point jump shot
4:30
Ben Gold offensive rebound
4:28
Tarris Reed Jr. shooting foul (David Joplin draws the foul)
4:28
+1
David Joplin makes regular free throw 1 of 2
27-30
4:28
+1
David Joplin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
28-30
4:11
Ben Gold blocks Liam McNeeley's two point layup
4:09
Huskies offensive rebound
4:00
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
3:58
Kam Jones defensive rebound
3:40
Samson Johnson blocks Kam Jones's three point jump shot
3:38
David Joplin offensive rebound
3:35
Alex Karaban blocks David Joplin's two point layup
3:33
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
3:27
+3
Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Liam McNeeley assists)
28-33
3:07
+3
David Joplin makes three point jump shot
31-33
2:46
Liam McNeeley misses two point jump shot
2:44
Alex Karaban offensive rebound
2:42
Zaide Lowery personal foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul)
2:42
TV timeout
2:29
Ben Gold blocks Solo Ball's two point layup
2:27
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
2:04
+2
Kam Jones makes two point hook shot
33-33
1:44
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
1:42
Kam Jones defensive rebound
1:28
Stevie Mitchell misses three point jump shot
1:26
Chase Ross offensive rebound
1:22
+2
Ben Gold makes two point layup (Chase Ross assists)
35-33
1:05
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
1:03
Kam Jones defensive rebound
0:57
Kam Jones misses two point layup
0:55
Samson Johnson defensive rebound
0:35
David Joplin personal foul (Solo Ball draws the foul)
0:27
Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot
0:25
David Joplin defensive rebound
0:19
Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
0:01
Samson Johnson shooting foul (Kam Jones draws the foul)
0:01
+1
Kam Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2
36-33
0:01
+1
Kam Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-33
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
MARQ
Golden Eagles
29
UCONN
Huskies
39
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:42
Liam McNeeley misses two point jump shot
19:40
Ben Gold defensive rebound
19:21
+2
Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup (Chase Ross assists)
39-33
18:54
+2
Samson Johnson makes two point layup (Liam McNeeley assists)
39-35
18:26
Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
18:24
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
18:01
Ben Gold shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul)
18:01
+1
Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 2
39-36
18:01
+1
Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 2 of 2
39-37
17:42
+2
Kam Jones makes two point jump shot
41-37
17:13
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
17:11
Huskies offensive rebound
17:11
Ben Gold personal foul (Samson Johnson draws the foul)
17:05
Stevie Mitchell personal foul (Hassan Diarra draws the foul)
17:00
+2
Liam McNeeley makes two point layup (Hassan Diarra assists)
41-39
16:36
Chase Ross misses three point jump shot
16:34
Samson Johnson defensive rebound
16:21
Liam McNeeley misses two point jump shot
16:19
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
16:10
+2
Solo Ball makes two point layup
41-41
16:00
+2
David Joplin makes two point layup
43-41
15:33
Liam McNeeley misses two point layup
15:31
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
15:31
Jump ball. Samson Johnson vs. Ben Gold (Ben Gold gains possession)
15:31
Samson Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Ben Gold steals)
15:31
TV timeout
15:09
Ben Gold turnover (lost ball) (Samson Johnson steals)
15:06
+2
Samson Johnson makes two point layup
43-43
15:06
Ben Gold shooting foul (Samson Johnson draws the foul)
15:06
Samson Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 1
15:06
Kam Jones defensive rebound
14:53
+2
Chase Ross makes two point layup
45-43
14:53
Liam McNeeley shooting foul (Chase Ross draws the foul)
14:53
+1
Chase Ross makes regular free throw 1 of 1
46-43
14:31
Samson Johnson misses two point layup
14:29
Solo Ball offensive rebound
14:27
Solo Ball misses two point layup
14:25
Zaide Lowery defensive rebound
14:24
Hassan Diarra shooting foul (Royce Parham draws the foul)
14:24
+1
Royce Parham makes regular free throw 1 of 2
47-43
14:24
+1
Royce Parham makes regular free throw 2 of 2
48-43
14:08
Kam Jones shooting foul (Solo Ball draws the foul)
14:08
+1
Solo Ball makes regular free throw 1 of 3
48-44
14:08
+1
Solo Ball makes regular free throw 2 of 3
48-45
14:08
+1
Solo Ball makes regular free throw 3 of 3
48-46
14:02
Tarris Reed Jr. blocks Kam Jones's two point layup
14:00
Golden Eagles offensive rebound
13:52
Kam Jones misses two point layup
13:50
Solo Ball defensive rebound
13:37
Hassan Diarra misses two point layup
13:35
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive rebound
13:34
Royce Parham personal foul (Tarris Reed Jr. draws the foul)
13:31
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
13:29
Liam McNeeley offensive rebound
13:23
Liam McNeeley misses two point layup
13:21
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive rebound
13:17
Tarris Reed Jr. misses two point layup
13:15
Royce Parham defensive rebound
12:55
David Joplin misses two point jump shot
12:53
Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound
12:50
+2
Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup
50-46
12:24
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point layup (Tarris Reed Jr. assists)
50-48
12:11
Zaide Lowery misses two point layup
12:09
Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound
12:03
Liam McNeeley shooting foul (David Joplin draws the foul)
12:03
+1
David Joplin makes regular free throw 1 of 2
51-48
12:03
+1
David Joplin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
52-48
11:40
+3
Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Aidan Mahaney assists)
52-51
11:22
Jaylin Stewart personal foul (Royce Parham draws the foul)
11:22
TV timeout
11:14
+2
Kam Jones makes two point jump shot
54-51
10:39
Tarris Reed Jr. misses two point hook shot
10:37
Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound
10:33
+2
Jaylin Stewart makes two point dunk
54-53
10:26
Aidan Mahaney personal foul (Kam Jones draws the foul)
10:19
Stevie Mitchell misses three point jump shot
10:17
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
10:05
+2
Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point dunk (Alex Karaban assists)
54-55
9:47
Kam Jones misses two point jump shot
9:45
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
9:32
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive foul
9:32
Tarris Reed Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
9:12
Solo Ball blocks Stevie Mitchell's two point jump shot
9:10
Hassan Diarra defensive rebound
9:04
Chase Ross personal foul (Hassan Diarra draws the foul)
9:04
+1
Hassan Diarra makes regular free throw 1 of 2
54-56
9:04
+1
Hassan Diarra makes regular free throw 2 of 2
54-57
8:39
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
8:31
Samson Johnson defensive rebound
8:31
Jump ball. Samson Johnson vs. Stevie Mitchell (Samson Johnson gains possession)
8:09
Ben Gold shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul)
8:09
+1
Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 2
54-58
8:09
+1
Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 2 of 2
54-59
7:56
Chase Ross misses two point layup
7:54
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
7:50
+2
Samson Johnson makes two point dunk (Hassan Diarra assists)
54-61
7:49
Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
7:49
TV timeout
7:34
Samson Johnson blocks Kam Jones's two point layup
7:32
Solo Ball defensive rebound
7:03
Royce Parham blocks Samson Johnson's two point layup
7:02
Huskies offensive rebound
7:02
TV timeout
7:00
Liam McNeeley misses two point jump shot
6:58
David Joplin defensive rebound
6:53
+3
David Joplin makes three point jump shot (Royce Parham assists)
57-61
6:30
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
6:28
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
6:24
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
6:22
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
6:05
David Joplin misses two point layup
6:03
Royce Parham offensive rebound
6:02
Jump ball. Royce Parham vs. Samson Johnson (Royce Parham gains possession)
5:58
Chase Ross misses three point jump shot
5:56
Solo Ball defensive rebound
5:29
+2
Hassan Diarra makes two point layup
57-63
5:14
Samson Johnson shooting foul (Kam Jones draws the foul)
5:14
Kam Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:14
+1
Kam Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
58-63
4:51
Samson Johnson misses two point jump shot
4:49
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
4:44
Alex Karaban misses two point jump shot
4:42
Zaide Lowery defensive rebound
4:30
+2
Kam Jones makes two point layup
60-63
4:22
Huskies 30 second timeout
4:22
TV timeout
4:01
Hassan Diarra misses two point layup
3:59
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
3:39
Stevie Mitchell personal foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul)
3:39
+1
Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 2
60-64
3:39
+1
Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 2 of 2
60-65
3:18
Stevie Mitchell misses three point jump shot
3:16
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
2:58
Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass) (Kam Jones steals)
2:53
Alex Karaban shooting foul (David Joplin draws the foul)
2:53
+1
David Joplin makes regular free throw 1 of 2
61-65
2:53
+1
David Joplin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
62-65
2:25
Hassan Diarra misses two point jump shot
2:23
Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
2:06
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
2:04
Hassan Diarra defensive rebound
1:40
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point layup
62-67
1:27
+2
Kam Jones makes two point layup
64-67
1:24
Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
0:58
Liam McNeeley misses two point jump shot
0:56
Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound
0:47
+2
Kam Jones makes two point layup
66-67
0:42
Huskies 60 second timeout
0:24
+3
Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Tarris Reed Jr. assists)
66-70
0:18
Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
0:16
Hassan Diarra defensive rebound
0:12
Stevie Mitchell personal foul (Hassan Diarra draws the foul)
