Joplin Big Off The Bench For Marquette
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
The #1 seed of the Big East Tournament Marquette Golden Eagles played like they had a bye in the first round when they faced the Red Storm of St. John’s. Marquette needed overtime to come away with the 72-70 victory. The #4 Huskies of Connecticut made easy work of Providence in their 73-66 win. Marquette faced Connecticut Friday night in the first semi-final game with the winner advancing to the championship game Saturday night.
UConn came out and sent an early message Marquette taking a 24-21 lead with 7:10 left in the first quarter. Both teams would trade 2, 3-pointers as the last by UConn’s guard Nahiem Alleyne gave them a 30-28 lead. The Golden Eagles guard am Jones then nails a 3-pointer with 1:31 left giving them a 36-33 lead. Jones would hit his next shot (38-35) before Marquette’s guard Joey Calcaterra drains a 3-pointer send both teams tied at the half at 38.
Marquette shot 53% and hit 5 of 12, 3-pointers led by Tyler Kolek’s 14 points. Connecticut shot 47%, 5-11 from 3-point land and was led by Adama Sanogo who scored 9.
Marquette came out in the second half and sent their own message out scoring the Huskies 10-4, connecting on 2 more 3-pointers (Kolek and David Joplin) giving them a 44-40 lead. After a Stevie Mitchell lay-up put them up 48-41, Joplin struck again. Attempting a 3-point shot, Joplin gets fouled and calmly sinks all 3, giving his team a 10-point lead, (56-46) the largest of the game.
With 11:22 left in the second half, Alleyne connects on a jump shot, reducing the lead to 4 at 58-54 forcing the Golden Eagles to call a time out. Then, things got really interesting.
Both teams defense intensified with no team leading by more than 4 the rest of the game. Marquette’s forward Oliver-Maxence Prosper nails a 3-pointer with 3:42 left giving them a 70-66 lead. A Sanogo lay-up cut the lead to 2 (70-68) which would be the final score. The Huskies had one more chance to steal the game but guard Jordan Hawkins 3-point attempt came up short. For the second straight game, Marquette survived.
Said Marquette’s head coach Shaka Smart after, “we really tried to emphasize to our guys that we had to win on the defensive end. UConn is a terrific team on both ends of the floor.”
Golden Eagles guard Tyler Kolek finished with 17 points and Joplin was big coming off the bench chipping in 17.
Marquette will face #2 seed Xavier in the Big East final game tonight. tip-off 6:30pm.
