#MUBB Faces NC State In Sweet 16 Friday Night

The No. 8/8 Marquette University men's basketball team (27-9) continues play at the 2024 NCAA Championship when the squad faces NC State (24-14) in the Sweet 16 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, March 29. CBS features the national television broadcast, with Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter) calling the action.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Kam Jones

Tyler Kolek