After an electric 105–104 overtime win against the Providence Friars, the Marquette Golden Eagles improved to 7–13 on the season and 2–7 in Big East play. The victory marks Marquette’s first non–Quad 4 win of the year. The 2025–26 season has clearly not unfolded as Shaka Smart envisioned, but as the year progresses, it’s becoming harder to ignore the steady improvement of this young Marquette team. As fans have grown accustomed to, Marquette’s offense came out swinging once again, scoring 29 points in the first 10 minutes of action.
While the offense was explosive throughout the night, the Golden Eagles were never able to fully pull away. Providence’s talented guard duo of senior Jaylin Sellers and freshman Stefan Vaaks scored at will, combining for 53 points. Although his scoring output was limited, Providence sophomore forward Oswin Erhunmwunse dominated the paint, hauling in 15 total rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.
Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports
Unlike previous contests this season, Marquette kept its foot firmly on the gas pedal. Led by freshman phenom Nigel James Jr.’s career-high 38 points and eight assists, the Golden Eagles delivered their best offensive performance of the season. While there is still obvious room for improvement, clear momentum is beginning to build—not only for the remainder of this year, but heading into next season as well.
What We Liked
It goes without saying that tonight’s offensive fireworks provide real reason for optimism moving forward. Marquette consistently penetrated the interior of Providence’s defense, while Nigel James knocked down timely three-pointers to help space the floor. The Golden Eagles had six players score in double figures, including Demarius Owens, who recorded his third straight double-digit scoring performance off the bench. The continued absence of redshirt junior guard Sean Jones and junior guard Zaide Lowrey opened the door for young players like Owens and Michael Phillips to earn extended minutes.
Photo Cred: Reuters
They are now carving out their identities on the court. Marquette also lived up to its trademark standard of disrupting passing lanes throughout the game. The Golden Eagles forced 17 turnovers, converting them into 27 points—their second-highest total of the season. On the offensive end, Marquette took care of the basketball, committing just six turnovers. Big East steals leader Chase Ross recorded a career-high seven steals and now ranks sixth all-time in career steals at Marquette.
Areas for Improvement
While it’s difficult to complain after scoring 105 points, season-long offensive issues continue to surface. Outside of Nigel James’ 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc, Marquette struggled to convert from three-point range. Without James’ scorching performance, the Golden Eagles would have shot a pedestrian 4-for-17 from deep.
As has been the case for several seasons, free throws remain a serious concern for Marquette. In a game that came down to the final seconds, the Golden Eagles left points on the board throughout the night. Although Nigel James Jr. calmly knocked down three straight free throws to force overtime, Marquette finished the game shooting just 63% from the charity stripe. Rebounding also remains an issue, as Marquette was outrebounded 42–30 and surrendered 14 offensive rebounds.
