Tyler Kolek was the hero for No. 4 Marquette as he scored 24 points and led his team to a stunning 78-75 victory over No. 1 Kansas in a heated showdown on Tuesday night. Kolek, who was a game-time decision due to an ankle injury, showed no signs of discomfort as he made clutch shots and plays throughout the game. He also added six rebounds and four assists for the Golden Eagles, who improved to 4-0 on the season.
Kolek, the reigning Big East Player of the Year and a preseason All-American said he was motivated by some trash talk from the Kansas players before the game. “They were saying some things that I didn’t like, so I just wanted to go out there and prove them wrong,” he said. “I love these types of games, where it’s physical and intense. I think we showed a lot of toughness and resilience tonight.”
Kansas falls short despite McCormack’s career night
Kansas, which was ranked No. 1 for the first time this season, suffered its first loss and dropped to 3-1. The Jayhawks had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Remy Martin missed a contested three-pointer as time expired. Martin, a transfer from Arizona State, had a rough night as he scored only nine points on 3-of-14 shooting.
The bright spot for Kansas was David McCormack, who had a career-high 32 points and 12 rebounds. McCormack, a senior center, dominated the paint and kept his team in the game with his efficient scoring. He made 14 of his 18 field goal attempts and also blocked three shots. He said he was disappointed with the outcome but proud of his teammates’ effort. “We fought hard, but we just came up short,” he said. “We have to learn from this and get better. We have a lot of talent and potential on this team, and we’re not going to let this loss define us.”
Marquette survives Kansas’ comeback attempt
Marquette led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but Kansas did not give up easily. The Jayhawks went on a 16-4 run to cut the deficit to two points with 3:12 left in the game. McCormack scored eight points during the run, while Ochai Agbaji and Jalen Wilson each hit a three-pointer.
However, Marquette responded with a 7-0 run of its own, capped by a three-point play by Kam Jones, who finished with 15 points. Jones, a freshman guard, said he was not intimidated by the atmosphere or the opponent. “I’ve been playing basketball my whole life, and I’ve always dreamed of playing in games like this,” he said. “I just trusted my teammates and my coaches, and I played with confidence.”
Kansas made one last push in the final minute, as Agbaji and Wilson hit back-to-back three-pointers to make it a one-point game with 12 seconds left. Marquette then inbounded the ball to Kolek, who was fouled and made both free throws to extend the lead to three. Martin then missed the potential game-tying shot, and Marquette celebrated its biggest win of the season.
Smart praises his team’s performance
Marquette coach Shaka Smart praised his team’s performance and said it was a statement win for the program. Smart, who is in his first season at Marquette after leaving Texas, said he was impressed by his team’s poise and execution. “I’m proud of our guys, they played with a lot of heart and passion,” he said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we stuck together and made the plays we needed to make. We beat a great team, and we showed that we belong among the elite teams in the country.”
Smart also credited Kolek for his leadership and toughness and said he was not surprised by his star player’s performance. “Tyler is a special player, and he’s a winner,” he said. “He’s been dealing with some pain in his ankle, but he didn’t let that affect him. He played with a chip on his shoulder, and he made some big shots and big plays for us. He’s the heart and soul of our team, and we’re lucky to have him.”
The game was part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games, an annual early-season series between Big East and Big Ten teams. Marquette will face No. 18 Wisconsin on Saturday, while Kansas will take on No. 5 Duke on Tuesday.
