Marquette vs. Villanova: Live Updates, Lineup, and Game Prediction
The Marquette men’s basketball team faced Villanova on February 10, resulting in a narrow 77-74 defeat. The game, held at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pennsylvania, marked Marquette’s first road matchup against the Wildcats under head coach Shaka Smart.
Game Highlights
Marquette entered the game with a record of 9-16, struggling in the Big East at 4-10. Despite a promising start, Marquette couldn’t maintain a late six-point lead. Villanova, boasting a season record of 19-5 and 10-3 in the Big East, mounted a significant comeback in the closing minutes.
Key Performers
- Royce Parham: Achieved a career-high of 26 points.
- Adrien Stevens: Contributed 18 points.
The first half saw Marquette down by four points at halftime, trailing 36-32. Despite struggling with turnovers (11) compared to field goals (10), the Golden Eagles managed to keep it close. Villanova also dominated on the boards, outscoring Marquette in second-chance points.
Second Half Comeback
Marquette tied the game at 41 early in the second half. However, following a flagrant foul on Nigel James Jr., Villanova quickly regained momentum. At one point, Marquette surged ahead 66-57, but Villanova answered back with a series of clutch plays, including back-to-back three-pointers from Tyler Perkins.
In a tense final minute, Marquette narrowed Villanova’s lead to just one point. However, Villanova sealed the win with pivotal free throws from Devin Askew, while Marquette’s last-gasp three-point attempt was blocked at the buzzer.
Marquette’s Lineup
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Guard | Nigel James Jr. |
| Guard | Adrien Stevens |
| Guard | Chase Ross |
| Forward | Ben Gold |
| Forward | Royce Parham |
Future Matchups
Looking ahead, Marquette has several critical games scheduled. Here are the next five matchups:
- Feb. 14: at Xavier, 2 p.m.
- Feb. 18: St. John’s, 8 p.m.
- Feb. 24: at Georgetown, 6 p.m.
- March 1: DePaul, 3 p.m.
Marquette has improved since its first meeting with Villanova, where they lost 76-73 in a previous encounter at Fiserv Forum. However, they still face challenges against tougher opponents in hostile environments.
Game Prediction
For this matchup, the prediction favored Villanova to win 75-68.
Broadcast Information
The game was available on TNT and trutv, with streaming options on Watch TNT and HBO Max. Brian Anderson, Grant Hill, and Andy Katz provided commentary during the broadcast.
Marquette’s struggle to secure their first road victory against Villanova emphasizes the need for continued improvement as they head deeper into the season.
