DePaul Blue Demons vs Marquette Golden Eagles Box Score on Feb 25, 2023

Kam Jones and Tyler Kolek each scored 22 points as No. 10 Marquette held off visiting DePaul 90-84 on Saturday night in Milwaukee, guaranteeing the Golden Eagles at least a share of their first Big East title in a decade.

DePaul, which trailed by 21 at the half, got within 85-80 on two free throws by Eral Penn with 25 seconds left.

Jones then hit the first of two free throws for Marquette. DePaul's Caleb Murphy missed his second free throw, but converted after a lane violation against Marquette to make it 86-82 with 15 seconds remaining.

Kolek preserved the lead with four free throws in the final 13 seconds.

Marquette (23-6, 15-3 Big East), picked ninth in the conference preseason poll, has a two-game lead over Xavier with Providence another half game back. The Golden Eagles last won a share of the regular-season conference title in 2012-13, along with Louisville and Georgetown.

Kolek, who entered second in the country with 7.6 assists per game, dished out 14 assists. Oso Ighodaro added 12 points and Olivier-Maxence Prosper 11 as the Golden Eagles won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Umoja Gibson had 20 points and Nick Ongenda added 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for DePaul (9-20, 3-15 Big East), which has lost 10 straight.

Marquette led 49-28 at the break on the strength of 11 3-pointers, including six by Jones, and turning 12 DePaul turnovers into 16 points.

DePaul whittled the lead to single digits with a 12-2 run, pulling within 74-66 on Ongenda's layin with 5:08 remaining.

The Golden Eagles gained control in the first half with a 13-0 run, going in front 37-17 on David Joplin's 3-pointer with 3:24 remaining.

Marquette never trailed as Jones opened the game with a pair from beyond the arc and added two more in the first six minutes.

--Field Level Media