MILWAUKEE — Solo Ball delivered an impressive performance, recording a personal best of 25 points, including an outstanding 7 of 9 shooting from beyond the arc, leading No. 25 UConn to a solid 77-69 victory over No. 9 Marquette on Saturday night.
Ball’s seven 3-pointers tied his career high.
With this loss, Marquette’s record fell to 18-4 overall and 9-2 in the Big East, placing them one game behind No. 15 St. John’s, who narrowly defeated Providence 68-66 earlier on the same day.
Contributing to UConn’s success, Alex Karaban scored 15 points and Samson Johnson netted 13. The Huskies built a significant lead, at one point going ahead by as much as 22 in the first half, responding effectively to each of Marquette’s attempts to close the gap as the game progressed.
Marquette’s scoring efforts saw Kam Jones leading with 22 points, followed by Chase Ross with 19 and David Joplin contributing 13.
**Highlights from the game:**
For UConn, the team continued to navigate without talented freshman Liam McNeeley, who typically averages 13.6 points per game and stands as the Huskies’ third leading scorer. McNeeley has been sidelined since January 1 due to a high ankle sprain.
Marquette struggled early on, which proved detrimental. They managed only 8 of 25 from the field and shot 10 of 20 from the free-throw line in the first half, along with missing their initial seven attempts from three-point range.
**Crucial Moment:**
A pivotal point in the game occurred when Joplin hit a 3-pointer, reducing UConn’s lead to 72-66 with just over two minutes left. Ball quickly countered with a 3-pointer of his own only 24 seconds later. Throughout the second half, Ball’s consistent shooting from distance thwarted all of Marquette’s attempts to mount a comeback.
**Key Statistics:**
UConn recorded a season-high with 25 turnovers but showcased excellent shooting overall, boasting a season-best 59.5% (25 of 42) from the field and 63.2% (12 of 19) from beyond the arc.
**Impact on Rankings:**
This victory assures UConn’s place within the Top 25 rankings, while Marquette is likely to fall from the top 10.
**Looking Ahead:**
Next up, Marquette will face St. John’s on Tuesday, while UConn will host the same team on Friday.