(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) – The Marquette University men’s basketball team (10-19, 5-13 BIG EAST) hits the road for the final time in the regular season to face Providence (14-15, 7-11 BIG EAST) on Wednesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. CT in Amica Mutual Pavilion. Peacock features the broadcast, with John Fanta (play-by-play) and Tim Welsh (analyst) calling the action. Following Wednesday’s outing, the Golden Eagles will host No. 4/4 UConn at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, March 1 on Senior Day in the home finale.
The all-time series between Marquette and Providence consists of 42 games (Marquette leads 27-15) and includes a number of memorable contests for MU fans.
The two programs first met in the 1963 National Invitation Tournament and the result was a 70-64 victory by PC. The teams would cross paths in 1966-67 in the same event and a slim 81-80 Marquette overtime win helped the squad to a runner-up finish under head coach Al McGuire.
Since the teams began meeting in BIG EAST Conference action, series highlights include a game delayed at the Bradley Center when a bat continued to interrupt play on the court, a wet court at PC in 2016-17 that caused numerous stoppages in play, a league record-tying 52-point performance by Markus Howard in 2017-18 at Providence and multiple overtime results.
The latest matchup resulted in a 105-104 overtime victory by the Golden Eagles at Fiserv Forum on Jan. 19. Guard Nigel James Jr. led five players in double figures with a Marquette freshman record 38 points.
MU’s BIG EAST Tourney Picture Developing
After Sunday nigtht’s loss to DePaul, the Golden Eagles have locked in a spot in the opening round of the BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament, presented by Jeep, and will play on Wednesday, March 11.
With two games left, at Providence and home against UConn, the Golden Eagles can still finish as high as seventh in the league, leaving each of the three Wednesday matchups in play. If the season ended today, 11th-seeded Marquette would face No. 6 seed Creighton at 8 p.m. CT in Madison Square Garden.
James Jr. One Of BIG EAST’s Top Freshmen
A four-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week selection (including March 2), guard Nigel James Jr. is proving to be one of the league’s top players, regardless of class.
The BIG EAST Freshman of the Year candidate has reached double figures in scoring in 17-of-18 league outings and ranks among the conference’s top-15 in five-different categories (season long and BIG EAST only).
JAMES JR.’S SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- James Jr. is also one of just two freshmen (Darius Acuff Jr. – Arkansas) in the nation to contribute at least 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per outing in conference matchups through games of March 1.
- First MU true freshman to have three games of 30-or-more points in a season.
- First BIG EAST freshman since Troy Murphy of Notre Dame in 1998-99 to have at least three 30+ point games in league regular season play.
- Only BIG EAST player with three-games of 30-or-more points in 2025-26.
- Fourth among BIG EAST players with nine 20-point games (seven in league play).
- 22nd (top BIG EAST newcomer) in the country among freshman in scoring (16.2 ppg.) through March 1.
- Had first 30-point, 12-assist BIG EAST game (at Xavier) since Chris Thomas of Notre Dame against Miami on Feb. 23, 2002 (only two occurrences since 1996).
- In a regulation game, James Jr. is the fourth freshman with 30 points and 12 assists since 2001-02 (twice by Trae Young, Corey Sanders and Chris Thomas).
- Scored 38 points vs. Providence on Jan. 19, the most by a MU true freshman.
- On pace to finish in top-10 of nine different freshman-season categories at MU.
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