Tyler Kolek scored seven of his game-high 19 points in overtime as top-seeded Marquette survived a stiff challenge from eighth-seeded St. John’s to earn a 72-70 victory Thursday afternoon in the Big East quarterfinals in New York.
The sixth-ranked Golden Eagles (26-6) won their seventh straight by overcoming a 14-point, first-half deficit before blowing a four-point lead in the final 25 seconds of regulation. Marquette, which trailed by 10 at halftime, will next face fourth-seeded UConn in the semifinals Friday.
The Huskies beat Providence in a quarterfinal Thursday.
Kolek made five of six free throws in the extra period and snapped a 70-all deadlock by hitting two free throws with 17 seconds left after being fouled by St. John’s Joel Soriano.
Marquette sweated out the final seconds as St. John’s had two chances at the game-winning 3. A.J. Storr missed a 3 from the left side and Posh Alexander missed a 3 at the buzzer.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper added 16 points for Marquette, which shot 39.1 percent and missed 25 of 34 3-point tries. Marquette withstood a quiet showing from leading scorer Kam Jones, who was held to 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting, though his 3 with 25 seconds left gave Marquette a 60-56 lead.
David Jones and Dylan Addae-Wusu scored 16 apiece as St. John’s (18-15) missed a chance at its first trip to the semifinals since winning the tournament in 2000. Soriano collected 12 points and 12 rebounds for his NCAA-best 25th double but also appeared to injure his right leg in the final seconds of overtime.
The Red Storm held a 36-26 lead at halftime before Marquette stormed back. The Red Storm missed their first 13 shots of the second half until Soriano was fouled on a putback to start a 7-0 spurt that put them up 47-40 on Alexander’s corner 3 with 12:05 left.
Two free throws by Addae-Wusu gave the Red Storm a 56-55 lead with 2:25 remaining.
Marquette’s Osa Ighodaro converted a putback for a 57-56 lead with 61 seconds left and Jones’ 3 made it 60-56 with 25 seconds left in regulation.
Storr hit three foul shots with 19 seconds left and Alexander stole the inbounds pass from Ighodaro at midcourt. After Jones committed a turnover, Prosper split two free throws with 12 seconds remaining and Addae-Wusu got around Prosper for a tying layup with six seconds left.
–Field Level Media
