Kam Jones scored 17 points and David Joplin added 13 to lead No. 5 Marquette to a 91-69 victory over Providence on Wednesday night in Milwaukee.
Five Golden Eagles scored in double figures, as Tyler Kolek, Stevie Mitchell and reserve Chase Ross each added 12 points. Kolek also dished out six assists for Marquette (22-6, 13-4 Big East), which avenged a 72-57 loss to the Friars on Dec. 19.
Devin Carter led Providence (18-10, 9-8) with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists. Davonte Gaines added 15 points, and Corey Floyd Jr. finished with 13.
The Golden Eagles were in control from the jump. The Friars didn’t score until Gaines drained a 3-pointer at the 16:20 mark of the first half, and Marquette later held a commanding 27-4 lead following Jones’ layup with 10:44 to go in the period.
A triple from Tre Norman with 37 seconds left in the first half sent the Golden Eagles into the break up 50-26.
Marquette shot a scorching 64.3 percent from the field (18 of 28) in the first half, going 7-for-14 (50 percent) from deep. Providence made 9 of 25 shots overall (36 percent), including 5 of 14 from 3-point range (35.7 percent), before the break.
Josh Oduro scored inside to pull the Friars within 57-37 with 16 minutes remaining in the game, but when Jones threw down a dunk with 6:34 left, it was a 28-point game at 82-54.
Things got chippy early in the second half. Mitchell was put on the ground by Oduro and Marquette’s Oso Ighodaro quickly shoved Oduro in response, leading to a technical foul.
Multiple hard fouls followed in what was a physical game. Kolek (oblique) briefly exited the contest and returned, but shortly after, he went back to the locker room for the remainder of the game.
–Field Level Media
