#MUBB holds off No. 22 Providence, 83-75

MILWAUKEE - The No. 20/18 Marquette University men's basketball team picked up its third win of the year over a ranked opponent in an 83-75 victory over No. 22/20 Providence on Wednesday evening at Fiserv Forum.

The Golden Eagles (15-5, 7-2 BIG EAST) were led by a game-high 21 points from sophomore Kam Jones, while point guard Tyler Kolek added 19 to go with eight rebounds and six assists.

Sophomore forward Bryce Hopkins paced the Friars (14-5, 6-2 BIG EAST) with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Ed Crosewll had a team-best 20 points.

The Golden Eagles held a 38-31 advantage over the Friars at the intermission and Kolek led Marquette through the first 20 minutes with nine points and three assists.

MU led by as many as 14 points midway through the second half and held off the Friars with an 11-of-12 effort (91.7%) from the free throw line in the final stanza. The Golden Eagles shot 57.7 percent from the floor in the second half.

NOTABLE:

Marquette leads the all-time series with Providence, 21-14.
The Golden Eagles have a record of 14-3 against the Friars in Milwaukee. Marquette has won each of its last three home games in the series.
In the first meeting against PC this season, the Friars claimed a 103-98 win in double overtime at home. Kolek netted a career-high 29 points and Marquette managed to force a pair of extra sessions despite PC shooting 30 more free throws than the Golden Eagles.
Following tonight's results across the BIG EAST Conference, MU (7-2) sits just a half game back in the league standings from Xavier (7-1). MU hosts the Musketeers in Milwaukee on Feb. 15.
MU is 3-1 against ranked foes this season.
Wednesday marked the third of three-straight games against ranked opponents for MU (No. 6/7 UConn, No. 12/11 Xavier, No. 22/20 Providence).
Kolek posted his second game this season with at least 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. He had a 14-5-6 line against Georgia Tech on Nov. 23.
PC point guard Jared Bynum missed his third-straight game tonight.
Hopkins had his seventh double-double of the year for the Friars.
Kam Jones posted his fifth 20-point game this season. He scored 24 in the previous meeting against PC.
Entering Wednesday's game, opponents had shot a BIG EAST-low .229 from long range against PC. MU hit 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from 3-point range on Wednesday.
PC also entered the game leading the league in rebounding margin (+9.2) and offensive rebounding percentage (.374). PC held a 34-27 edge on the glass tonight.
The Golden Eagles honored the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Final Four with players and head coach Tom Crean in attendance. The Golden Eagles finished 27-6 overall and 14-2 in Conference USA action that season, earning a share of the regular season title. The team's tourney run included wins over Holy Cross, Missouri, Pittsburgh and No. 1 Kentucky in the Elite Eight. Consensus All-America selection Dwyane Wade was the leading scorer on a roster that featured Travis Diener, Steve Novak and Rob Jackson.

UP NEXT: Marquette heads to the East Coast for a 3 p.m. Central time matchup on Saturday with Seton Hall. MU previously defeated the Pirates, 83-69, in Milwaukee on Dec. 27.

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).