Sports
Marquette Edges DePaul in Thrilling Big East Showdown
CHICAGO – Marquette University’s Golden Eagles narrowly defeated the DePaul Blue Demons 79-72 in a tightly contested Big East conference game at Wintrust Arena on Tuesday night. The game, which saw multiple lead changes, highlighted both teams’ offensive prowess and defensive lapses.
Marquette, ranked seventh nationally with a 14-2 overall record and 5-0 in the Big East, struggled to contain DePaul’s sharpshooting early. DePaul (9-8, 0-6 Big East) shot an impressive 59.3% from the field in the first half, including 11 of 13 on two-point attempts, to take a 40-39 lead at halftime.
“We didn’t come out with the defensive intensity we needed,” said Marquette head coach Shaka Smart. “DePaul was hitting everything, and we had to adjust.”
Marquette senior guard Kam Jones led the charge with 12 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, while forward David Joplin added four three-pointers in the first half. Joplin, who has a history of strong performances at Wintrust Arena, said, “I love shooting here. The rims feel good, and the energy from the crowd helps.”
DePaul’s Jacob Meyer and Isaiah Rivera kept the Blue Demons in contention with clutch three-pointers, but Marquette’s ability to capitalize on turnovers proved decisive. The Golden Eagles scored 18 points off DePaul’s 14 turnovers, including a pivotal steal and dunk by Chase Ross late in the second half.
Despite the loss, DePaul showed signs of improvement under first-year head coach Chris Holtmann. “We’re getting better every game,” Holtmann said. “We just need to cut down on mistakes and finish strong.”
Marquette’s Ben Gold, who entered the game shooting 29 for 81 from beyond the arc this season, was perfect from three-point range in the first half, sinking all four attempts. His hot shooting helped Marquette build an early 24-18 lead.
The Golden Eagles will look to maintain their unbeaten conference record when they face Creighton on Saturday, while DePaul seeks its first Big East win against Georgetown.