By Chris Coopersmith
3 29 2024
MARQUETTE GAME NOTES
https://gomarquette.com/documents/2024/3/25/Game_37_-_Marquette_vs._NC_State.pdf
Limited Series Includes Title Matchup
MU celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first Final Four appearance this season, honoring the team that advanced to the championship game against NC State in 1974.
The Wolfpack claimed the national title with a 76-64 win on March 25, 1974 in Greensboro, N.C. in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Maurice Lucas led three players in double figures with 21 points and 13 rebounds and Bo Ellis chipped in 12 points and 11 boards. Ellis, the only player in MU history to appear in two national title games, led Marquette to its only championship in 1977, a 67-59 win over North Carolina in Atlanta.
Marquette defeated Ohio, No. 6 Vanderbilt, No. 12 Michigan and No. 6 Kansas en route to the title matchup.
NC State leads the all-time series 3-2, with the most recent meeting a 77-73 win at the Bradley Center on Dec. 5, 2009 to conclude a home-and-home series.
MU Back In Sweet 16 For First Time Since 2013
Marquette is playing in its 36th NCAA Championship all-time and the Sweet 16 for the 17th time in school history and first since 2013.
The Golden Eagles played in three-straight regional semifinals (2011, 2012, 2013), advancing to the Elite Eight in 2013 before falling to Syracuse, 55-39, in Washington, D.C. under head coach Buzz Williams.
Kolek, Jones Lead Run To Sweet 16
Marquette’s starting guard duo of Kam Jones and Tyler Kolek combined to average 42.5 points per game in the wins over Western Kentucky and Colorado.
Jones led the way with 23.0 points per contest, combining to shoot 58.6 percent (17-of-29) from the floor overall and 9-of-20 (45.0 percent) from long distance. In his last 11 games, a run that includes a trio of 30-point efforts and six games of 20-or-more points, Jones is averaging 23.3 points per game while shooting 56.1 percent from the floor and 50.6 percent from deep. He has also chipped in 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest since Feb. 21.
Kolek returned to action after missing six games with an oblique injury and posted back-to-back double-doubles. He averaged 19.5 points, 11.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds per outing and shot 63.0 percent (17-of-27) from the floor.
Kolek is just the third player (Markquis Nowell, Kansas State – 2023 – Ja Morant, Murray State – 2019) in the last 10 years to total more than 30 points and 20 assists in back-to-back tournament games. He is also the first player since Jason Kidd (California) in 1993 to post consecutive games of at least 10 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in a single NCAA Championship.
Efficient Shooting Key In Colorado Victory
Marquette’s offensive attack was extremely efficient in the win over Colorado and the team finished a season-best 61.8 percent (34-of-55) from the field.
The Golden Eagles were above 70.0 percent from the floor for a majority of the first half and finished the opening 20 minutes 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) overall and 13-of-15 (86.7 percent) inside the 3-point line.
Marquette’s final field goal percentage (61.8) was its best since shooting 63.2 percent from the floor against NC Central (Dec. 6, 2022) in a 90-78 victory at home.
Pack Outlasts Oakland in Overtime to Advance to Sweet 16
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The 11th-seed NC State men’s basketball team went on an 11-1 run in overtime on its way to defeating 14th-seed Oakland, 79-73, Saturday evening at PPG Paints Arena.
With the win, NC State advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. The Pack will faces 2nd-seed Marquette in Dallas on Friday.
DJ Burns, Jr., led the Pack with his second double-double of the season as he scored 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds while also passing out four assists.
Burns is the first NC State player since 1985 to record a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Rock Hill, S.C., native finished the game 9-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the foul line.
Like Burns, Mohamed Diarra also posted a double-double as he scored 11 points and pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds. It’s Diarra’s fourth double-double in the last five games.
Michael O’Connell added 12 points and Casey Morsell and DJ Horne each chipped in 11 points.
O’Connell passed out a season-high eight assists which are the most by an NC State player this season.
The Pack jumped out to a 9-2 lead and never trailed in the first half, taking a 32-29 advantage into the locker room.
In the second half, NC State pushed its advantage back up to seven early in the half, but could not create any space on the Golden Grizzlies as they stayed close with the Pack.
Trey Townsend finally gave Oakland its first lead of the game, 63-61, with a three-point play with 2:49 to go. Oakland stayed in front until O’Connell had a three-point play of his own to put the Pack in front 66-64 with 55 seconds left in regulation.
Oakland tied the game with two free throws and after both teams got a defensive stop, Morsell’s half court heave just missed to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, Oakland had a 69-68 with 2:25 left when the Pack took control. Burns started the run with a put-back lay-up to put NC State in front. After a defensive stop, DJ Horne made a jumper to push NC State’s advantage to three. Oakland made one free throw to get back within two, but Burns found Jayden Taylor for a three-pointer to give NC State a 75-70 lead with 1:13 to play.
The Pack got two more stops on Oakland’s ensuing possessions and made four straight free throws to take a 79-70 lead with 17 seconds left. The Golden Grizzlies made a three with 14 seconds to go, but neither team scored again as NC State advanced to the Sweet 16.
NC State outscored Oakland in points in the paint, 36-24, and the Pack passed out a season-high tying 19 assists in the win.
COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
