#MUBB drops league home opener to UConn, 78-70

Box Score (PDF)

MILWAUKEE - Marquette fell to UConn, 78-70, in the Golden Eagles' BIG EAST Conference home opener on Tuesday evening at Fiserv Forum.

Forward Justin Lewis led MU (8-5, 0-2 BIG EAST) with 20 points and the Golden Eagles shot 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the floor in the loss.

Guards RJ Cole and Tyrese Martin combined for 45 points to lead UConn (10-3, 1-1 BIG EAST) to its third-straight win over Marquette.

The Golden Eagles pulled within one point late in the second half on a Lewis jumper, but an 8-0 run by the Huskies down the stretch proved to be the difference. UConn shot 50 percent from the floor and 89.9 percent from the charity stripe in the win.

Notables:

The all-time series between the two programs, which dates to MU's first year in the BIG EAST in 2005-06, is now tied 6-6.
Lewis has reached double figures in all but one game this season and posted his second-highest point total of his career (21 vs. Ole Miss).
Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored a career-high 13 points for the Golden Eagles. His previous high this season was 11 against Jackson State. His high last season as a freshman at Clemson was also 11 points on Dec. 2, 2020 against South Carolina State.
MU guard Tyler Kolek posted eight assists, the second-highest single game total of his career.
UConn point guard RJ Cole is averaging 20.5 points in his last two games against MU. He scored 21 in 34 minutes in last year's second matchup with the Golden Eagles.
UConn's Tyrese Martin, tonight's leading scorer with 25 points, posted just six points combined in last year's two games against MU.
Cole reached 2,000 career points tonight, while Martin reached the 1,000-point plateau.
Marquette announced prior to the game that guard Darryl Morsell has entered health and safety protocols and missed tonight's game.
UConn's Adama Sanogo returned to the court after four missed games and posted six points and two rebounds in 13 minutes.

Up Next: Marquette's players and staff will scatter across the country to spend Christmas with family and friends before traveling to St. John's on Dec. 29.

Keep up with the Marquette men's basketball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMBB) and Instagram (@marquette.basketball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMensBB). Fans interested in tickets can contact the Marquette Ticket Office online or at 414-288-GOMU (4668).