Kam Jones scores 20 as No. 5 Marquette opens with 92-70 triumph over Northern Illinois
MILWAUKEE (AP) Kam Jones’ teammates could sense he was going to start the season off the right way.
Jones scored 20 points and No. 5 Marquette beat Northern Illinois 92-70 on Monday night in the opener for both schools. The 6-foot-5 guard shot 6 of 9 from the floor and 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
“You could tell Kam was going to have a good game when you saw him this morning, man,” said Marquette guard Sean Jones, who isn't related to Kam. “He came into the Al (McGuire Center) real energetic, real happy like he always does. Had a great fit on. He was just ready to go, all business, hair picked out. Man, it was just great to see.”
Kam Jones went 3 of 3 from 3-point range in the first four minutes, helping Marquette put together a solid start to a season with huge expectations.
Marquette entered with its highest preseason ranking since 1977, when it was coming off a national championship and started out at No. 3. The Golden Eagles return four starters from a team that won the Big East’s regular-season and tournament championships last season.
During a pregame ceremony, Marquette unveiled a banner saluting those Big East titles from last season. The banner was just to the left of Doc Rivers’ retired No. 31 jersey.
That could have served as a distraction. Marquette had no such issues.
“I thought our guys did a nice job of wanting to play, wanting to take this next step with this team, understanding that this team is different than last year's team,” coach Shaka Smart said.
Tyler Kolek, the reigning Big East Player of the Year, had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists as Marquette shot 52.2% from the floor. Oso Ighodaro had 13 points and seven assists, and Chase Ross added a career-high 12 points.
David Coit scored 14 points and DePaul transfer Philmon Gebrewhit had 13 for Northern Illinois. Yanic Konan Niederhauser had nine points and 11 rebounds.
After trailing by 25 with just under 16 minutes left, Northern Illinois cut Marquette’s lead to 65-51 on Zion Russell’s three-point play with 12:55 remaining. Marquette then scored the next eight points.
“I thought we were a little bit nervous,” Northern Illinois coach Rashon Burno said. “The moment was loud for us, and it showed in spots. But I like our grit in the second half. We were able to settle down and score the way we can score.”
BIG PICTURE
Northern Illinois: The Huskies deserve some credit for making a run early in the second half after falling way behind, but they didn't shoot well enough to have a chance at pulling the upset. The Huskies shot 37.1% from the floor and were just 7 of 26 from 3-point range.
Marquette: The Golden Eagles had amazing luck with health last season and were able to use the same starting lineup for all 36 games. The only change in the starting lineup this year is 2022-23 Big East Sixth Man of the Year David Joplin taking over for Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who's now with the Dallas Mavericks. Joplin scored seven points in 21 minutes.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Marquette has a good chance to move up to No. 4 next week if it stays unbeaten, thanks to No. 4 Michigan State's loss to James Madison on Monday.
UP NEXT
Northern Illinois: Hosts Appalachian State on Saturday.
Marquette: Hosts Rider on Friday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser vs. Oso Ighodaro (Huskies gains possession) | |||
19:38 | Zarique Nutter turnover (back court violation) | |||
19:31 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser shooting foul (Oso Ighodaro draws the foul) | |||
19:31 | Oso Ighodaro misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
19:31 | Oso Ighodaro misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
19:31 | Xavier Amos defensive rebound | |||
19:15 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses two point jump shot | |||
19:13 | Golden Eagles defensive rebound | |||
19:05 | +3 | Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists) | 0-3 | |
18:54 | Zarique Nutter turnover (bad pass) | |||
18:32 | Golden Eagles turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
18:24 | Tyler Kolek personal foul | |||
18:07 | +3 | Philmon Gebrewhit makes three point jump shot (Xavier Amos assists) | 3-3 | |
17:58 | +3 | Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Stevie Mitchell assists) | 3-6 | |
17:48 | Philmon Gebrewhit turnover (bad pass) (David Joplin steals) | |||
17:37 | +2 | Oso Ighodaro makes two point dunk (Kam Jones assists) | 3-8 | |
17:32 | Philmon Gebrewhit turnover (bad pass) | |||
17:24 | David Joplin misses three point jump shot | |||
17:22 | Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound | |||
17:08 | Tyler Kolek turnover (lost ball) (Xavier Amos steals) | |||
17:07 | Xavier Amos misses two point layup | |||
17:06 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
17:05 | David Coit misses three point jump shot | |||
17:03 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser offensive rebound | |||
16:52 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser turnover (lost ball) | |||
16:52 | David Joplin misses three point jump shot | |||
16:52 | Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
16:52 | Stevie Mitchell misses two point layup | |||
16:52 | Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound | |||
16:52 | Tyler Kolek turnover (bad pass) (Xavier Amos steals) | |||
16:30 | Xavier Amos misses three point jump shot | |||
16:28 | Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
16:21 | Oso Ighodaro turnover (lost ball) (Philmon Gebrewhit steals) | |||
16:09 | +2 | Zarique Nutter makes two point layup | 5-8 | |
15:58 | +3 | Kam Jones makes three point jump shot | 5-11 | |
15:49 | Xavier Amos turnover (bad pass) (Stevie Mitchell steals) | |||
15:45 | +2 | Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup | 5-13 | |
15:38 | Stevie Mitchell personal foul | |||
15:27 | TV timeout | |||
15:24 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses two point jump shot | |||
15:22 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser offensive rebound | |||
15:13 | +2 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes two point layup | 7-13 | |
15:06 | Kam Jones misses two point jump shot | |||
14:58 | Zarique Nutter defensive rebound | |||
14:58 | David Coit misses three point jump shot | |||
14:56 | Chase Ross defensive rebound | |||
14:16 | Sean Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
14:16 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser defensive rebound | |||
14:16 | +3 | David Coit makes three point jump shot (Zarique Nutter assists) | 10-13 | |
14:08 | Sean Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
14:06 | Philmon Gebrewhit defensive rebound | |||
13:57 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses two point jump shot | |||
13:55 | Chase Ross defensive rebound | |||
13:45 | +2 | Oso Ighodaro makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists) | 10-15 | |
13:20 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser misses two point jump shot | |||
13:18 | Tyler Kolek defensive rebound | |||
13:11 | +2 | Chase Ross makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists) | 10-17 | |
12:54 | Zarique Nutter misses two point jump shot | |||
12:52 | Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound | |||
12:48 | +2 | Sean Jones makes two point layup (Oso Ighodaro assists) | 10-19 | |
12:48 | Huskies 30 second timeout | |||
12:42 | +2 | Xavier Amos makes two point layup (Zarique Nutter assists) | 12-19 | |
12:13 | +2 | Sean Jones makes two point layup | 12-21 | |
12:01 | +2 | Harvin Ibarguen makes two point layup (Zion Russell assists) | 14-21 | |
11:50 | Tre Norman misses three point jump shot | |||
11:48 | Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound | |||
11:37 | Oso Ighodaro misses two point layup | |||
11:35 | Xavier Amos defensive rebound | |||
11:16 | Oso Ighodaro blocks Zion Russell's two point layup | |||
11:14 | Ben Gold defensive rebound | |||
10:56 | Zarique Nutter personal foul | |||
10:56 | TV timeout | |||
10:42 | +3 | Chase Ross makes three point jump shot (Tre Norman assists) | 14-24 | |
10:06 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses two point layup | |||
10:04 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
10:01 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses three point jump shot | |||
9:59 | Tyler Kolek defensive rebound | |||
9:55 | +2 | David Joplin makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists) | 14-26 | |
9:47 | David Coit misses three point jump shot | |||
9:45 | Chase Ross defensive rebound | |||
9:20 | Xavier Amos blocks Tre Norman's two point jump shot | |||
9:20 | Golden Eagles offensive rebound | |||
9:14 | +3 | David Joplin makes three point jump shot (Kam Jones assists) | 14-29 | |
9:13 | Will Lovings-Watts misses two point layup | |||
9:11 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser offensive rebound | |||
8:57 | +2 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes two point layup | 16-29 | |
8:36 | +2 | Tyler Kolek makes two point layup | 16-31 | |
8:20 | +2 | David Coit makes two point jump shot | 18-31 | |
8:00 | +2 | Kam Jones makes two point layup | 18-33 | |
7:31 | Zarique Nutter misses two point layup | |||
7:29 | Will Lovings-Watts offensive rebound | |||
7:22 | Will Lovings-Watts misses two point layup | |||
7:20 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser offensive rebound | |||
7:10 | +2 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes two point dunk | 20-33 | |
7:05 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser blocks Zaide Lowery's two point layup | |||
7:03 | David Coit defensive rebound | |||
6:42 | Kam Jones shooting foul (Philmon Gebrewhit draws the foul) | |||
6:42 | TV timeout | |||
6:37 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | |||
6:37 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | |||
6:37 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses regular free throw 3 of 3 | |||
6:34 | Kam Jones defensive rebound | |||
6:28 | Oso Ighodaro misses two point jump shot | |||
6:26 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser defensive rebound | |||
6:00 | Zarique Nutter misses three point jump shot | |||
5:58 | Tyler Kolek defensive rebound | |||
5:44 | Yanic Konan Niederhauser shooting foul (Kam Jones draws the foul) | |||
5:44 | +1 | Kam Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-34 | |
5:44 | +1 | Kam Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-35 | |
5:30 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses two point layup | |||
5:28 | Golden Eagles defensive rebound | |||
5:15 | +3 | Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (Kam Jones assists) | 20-38 | |
4:37 | David Coit misses three point jump shot | |||
4:33 | Stevie Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
4:26 | Zarique Nutter blocks Tyler Kolek's two point layup | |||
4:22 | David Coit defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | Sean Jones shooting foul (David Coit draws the foul) | |||
4:21 | +1 | David Coit makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-38 | |
4:21 | +1 | David Coit makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-38 | |
4:06 | +3 | Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (Chase Ross assists) | 22-41 | |
3:43 | Xavier Amos turnover (bad pass) | |||
3:43 | TV timeout | |||
3:32 | Harvin Ibarguen shooting foul (Ben Gold draws the foul) | |||
3:32 | +1 | Ben Gold makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-42 | |
3:32 | Ben Gold misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:32 | Harvin Ibarguen defensive rebound | |||
3:02 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses three point jump shot | |||
3:00 | Harvin Ibarguen offensive rebound | |||
3:00 | Chase Ross shooting foul (Harvin Ibarguen draws the foul) | |||
3:00 | +1 | Harvin Ibarguen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-42 | |
3:00 | Harvin Ibarguen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:00 | Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound | |||
2:50 | +2 | Chase Ross makes two point layup | 23-44 | |
2:15 | +2 | Zion Russell makes two point jump shot | 25-44 | |
2:04 | +2 | Chase Ross makes two point layup (Sean Jones assists) | 25-46 | |
2:04 | Zion Russell shooting foul (Chase Ross draws the foul) | |||
2:04 | Chase Ross misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:04 | Tre Norman personal foul | |||
1:48 | +3 | Philmon Gebrewhit makes three point jump shot | 28-46 | |
1:36 | +2 | Kam Jones makes two point layup | 28-48 | |
1:13 | David Coit misses three point jump shot | |||
1:11 | Zion Russell offensive rebound | |||
1:01 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses two point layup | |||
0:59 | Tyler Kolek defensive rebound | |||
0:45 | Tyler Kolek turnover (bad pass) (Harvin Ibarguen steals) | |||
0:38 | Philmon Gebrewhit misses two point layup | |||
0:36 | Tyler Kolek defensive rebound | |||
0:33 | Harvin Ibarguen flagrant 1 (David Joplin draws the foul) | |||
0:33 | +1 | David Joplin makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | 28-49 | |
0:33 | +1 | David Joplin makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | 28-50 | |
0:07 | Oso Ighodaro turnover (traveling) | |||
0:01 | Zarique Nutter misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |