The #10 Marquette Golden Eagles and the Villanova Wildcats were tied at 58 with two seconds remaining in regulation. Kam Jones appeared to have won the game at the buzzer for the Golden Eagles, but the shot was reviewed and waived off. It took an extra five minutes for the Golden Eagles to win against the Wildcats by a final score of 71-65.
KAM JONES WAS THIS CLOSE 😅
INSTEAD, MORE OVERTIME 😳
(via @MarquetteMBB)pic.twitter.com/JMuoZk2Aa2
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 15, 2024
Kam Jones set Twitter into ablaze with that potential buzzer beater, even though it didn’t count toward the end of regulation.
Woke up and I still wish Kam Jones basket would and should have counted #mubb pic.twitter.com/lnt9UbV7Ew
— Tapping The Keg Sports (@TappingTheKeg) March 15, 2024
Point guard Tyler Kolek did not play in this matchup for the Golden Eagles because of an oblique injury. Head coach Shaka Smart hopes to have him play on Friday night in the semifinals. Marquette is 24-8 overall so far this season.
To no surprise, Kam Jones once again led the Marquette Golden Eagles in scoring with 18 points. He also grabbed six rebounds and recorded four assists.
Stevie Mitchell stepped up big time for Marquette with 15 points. He also grabbed five rebounds and recorded one assist. David Joplin scored 14 points and Chase Ross also added 11 points for the Golden Eagles. The fact that the Golden Eagles were able to win this game with Tyler Kolek being sidelined and Oso Ighodaro only scoring four points is quite impressive.
Villanova Wildcats Have Three Players Score In Double Figures Against the #10 Marquette Golden Eagles
The Villanova Wildcats had three different players score in double figures against the #10 Marquette Golden Eagles for Kyle Neptune. Villanova was not as fortunate to win this game as the last one against the DePaul Blue Demons 58-57. Eric Dixon scored 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and recorded two assists for the Wildcats.
Mark Armstrong scored 15 points and TJ Bamba scored 12 points for Villanova. With the loss in overtime against Marquette, the Villanova Wildcats are going to have to await their fate on selection Sunday and finished with an 18-15 record overall. Villanova was a bubble team entering this Thursday night matchup with Marquette.
With the Golden Eagles winning this one in overtime, they will face the Providence Friars in the Big East Conference semifinals after upsetting the Creighton Blue Jays on Thursday night. Marquette will need to be sharper against Providence on Friday night.
