#MUBB Secures 105-104 Overtime Victory Against Friars

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Marquette University men's basketball team (7-13, 2-7 BIG EAST) returned to Fiserv Forum as they hosted Providence (9-10, 2-6 BIG EAST) on in a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup where the Golden Eagles secured a 105-104 overtime victory.

Freshman Nigel James Jr. led the way for the Golden Eagles with a career-high 38 points, shooting 13-of-20 from the field while dishing out eight assists. Chase Ross finished with 16 points, six assists and a career-high seven steals. Royce Parham recorded 18 points and four blocks, while Ben Gold (14) and Damarius Owens (12) also scored in double figures.

Coming out of the halftime break, Providence erased Marquette's 10-point advantage, opening the second half on a 10-2 run to make it a one-possession game at 56-54. The teams traded momentum throughout the contest until the Friars took a 79-77 lead with 5:42 remaining.

Marquette found themselves trailing 94-91 in the closing seconds of regulation. With just 2.3 seconds left, James Jr. was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly stepped to the line, knocking down all three free throws to force overtime.

In overtime, the back-and-forth action continued. With under 20 seconds remaining, the Golden Eagles trailed by two before James Jr. once again delivered, tying the game at 104. On what appeared to be Providence's final possession, Gold came up with a steal and was fouled in the back court, giving Marquette an opportunity to seal the game at the charity stripe. Gold went 1-of-2 from the free-throw line, securing a 105-104 victory and snapping Marquette's three-game losing skid.

UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles return to action on Friday, Jan. 23, traveling to Indianapolis to face Butler. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

NOTABLES

James Jr.'s 38 points were the most points in a BIG EAST game since Liam McNeeley had 38 last year at Creighton
James Jr. had first 38-point/8-assist game in a BIG EAST contest since Dominique Jones (USF) had 46 and 8 against Providence on Jan. 23, 2010
James Jr. had just the second 35-point/8-assist game by a freshman this season. Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) had 36 and 9 in a win over UNC on Jan. 14
James Jr.'s 38 points are the most by a Marquette true freshman since Marcus Howard scored 34 against Xavier on Feb. 18, 2017
James Jr. entered Monday as only freshman averaging at least 17.5 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in league play and is now contributing 20.1 points, 5.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest
James Jr.'s 38 points are the most by a true freshman since Marcus Howard scored 34 against Xavier on Feb. 18, 2017.
Ross finished with a career-high seven steals and now ranks seventh all-time at Marquette.(191)
Ross' seven steals are the most by a player in a BIG EAST game this season.
Owens reached double figures in three straight games for the first time in his career.