Donovan Dent scores 21 points to lead New Mexico over Marquette 75-66 in March Madness
CLEVELAND — Donovan Dent scored 21 points and No. 10 seed New Mexico took control late in the second half to defeat seventh-seeded Marquette 75-66 on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Richard Pitino joined his father in the second round after New Mexico (27-7) snapped a four-game NCAA Tournament losing streak and won its first game since 2012. Rick Pitino has No. 2 seed St. John’s playing its next game Saturday against Arkansas.
It is the second time the Pitinos have had teams in the 68-team field in the same year, but the first time both have won their first-round games.
Dent, the Mountain West Player of the Year, had six points in the first half but found his rhythm in the second half. He had four points during a 10-0 Lobos run that broke open the game.
“I just thought at the end of the game, we buckled down and got stops. We stopped turning the ball over,” Pitino said. “I thought the other guys, their spacing allowed Donovan to get going a little bit more. We slipped some stuff, got him downhill, and he was terrific.”
Nelly Junior Joseph added 19 points for New Mexico, which will play second-seeded Michigan State or 15 seed Bryant on Sunday in the second round of the South Region.
Joseph made a layup with 6:17 remaining that put the Lobos up 59-58. The second half went back-and-forth with three ties and eight lead changes before New Mexico took control.
“I thought they won the battle of poise. They were the more poised team over the majority of the game,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “When we took the lead in the second half, we could really feel a level of momentum that we had going. But we just weren’t able to win that next swing minute, which matters so much, and just some mistakes that cost us on both ends of the floor.”
David Joplin led Marquette (23-11) with 28 points, including six 3-pointers. Kam Jones added 15 points.
Joplin bounced back after going 1 for 7 from beyond the arc in the Big East Tournament semifinal game against St. John’s. In the three games previous to that, he was 9 of 17 on 3-pointers.
Jones, an AP All-America second-team selection for the Golden Eagles after being third in the Big East in scoring at 18.9 points per game, missed five of his first six shots and had only four points in the first half.
The senior guard fought back tears during the postgame interview in what was his final game in a Marquette uniform.
“No other group I’d rather play with. I love these guys to death, and I hate it ended this way,” he said as Joplin put an arm on his shoulder to console him.
Takeaways
New Mexico: It is the first time since 1999 that the Lobos have won a first-round game as the lower seed.
Marquette: The Golden Eagles made the Sweet 16 last year but went one-and-done this time. They are 1-3 in the tournament as the seventh seed.
Key stat
New Mexico had a 38-26 advantage in points in the paint. Smart pointed to the 12-point difference as the biggest factor in the game.
“They scored way more around the basket than we did and, in the paint, made better decisions in there. Because of that, got to the foul line more,” he said. “Not enough of an ability to say, ‘You know what, you guys are really good getting in the paint. We’re not going to let you in there.’ It’s easier said than done, but you’ve got to give New Mexico a lot of credit.”
Up next
The Lobos will be looking to reach a regional semifinal for the first time since 1974 on Sunday.
-
New Mexico tops Marquette to advance in NCAA Tournament
Mar. 21—CLEVELAND — New Mexico surged into the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 75-66 upset victory over Marquette on Friday. The 10th-seeded Lobos finished the game on a 22-11 run ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Marquette's Jones, New Mexico's Dent headline intriguing guard matchup in South Region
Marquette's Kam Jones and New Mexico's Donovan Dent will face each other Friday night in an intriguing NCAA Tournament first-round matchup of do-everything guards. Jones and the seventh-seeded ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
March Madness 2025: Donovan Dent leads No. 10 New Mexico to upset win over Shaka Smart, No. 7 Marquette
The win marks the first for the Lobos in the NCAA tournament in more than a decade.Yahoo Sports - 7h -
New Mexico vs. Marquette: Players other than star guards Kam Jones, Donovan Dent will be key
Mar. 20—CLEVELAND, Ohio — Marquette's Kam Jones. New Mexico's Donovan Dent. They're the names that have been on the top of every opposing scouting report on the No. 7 Golden Eagles or No. 10 Lobos. ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
NCAA Tournament Cleveland 2025 scores | New Mexico vs. Marquette live updates, highlights
No. 7 Marquette plays No. 10 New Mexico in first round of March Madness. Follow for live NCAA tournament updates from Cleveland's Rocket Arena.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Marquette vs New Mexico schedule, TV channel: How to watch March Madness NCAA Tournament game
What time is the Marquette vs New Mexico NCAA Tournament game? How to watch Eagles vs Lobos March Madness game on Friday, March 21 on TV.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
New Mexico vs Marquette Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats for 2025 March Madness
New Mexico Lobos vs. Marquette Golden Eagles Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 1d -
Marquette struggles with consistency in loss to New Mexico in first round of NCAA tournament
The Golden Eagles were staggered by a 10-0 run by the Lobos late in the second half.Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Marquette basketball’s March Madness opponent is New Mexico to open 2025 NCAA tournament bracket
It’s Marquette basketball vs. New Mexico in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA tournament men’s bracket. Here’s what to know about the first-round game in Cleveland.Yahoo Sports - 5d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Could Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White finish his NBA career a Hall of Famer?
What else would he need to do to make it?Yahoo Sports - 20m -
“I felt that I could improve” – Cucurella reveals aspect of his game he’s “very happy” to have improved
Marc Cucurella is happy he’s added goals to his game as he felt that’s one of the main things he needed to improve on.Cucurella is having a brilliant season for the Blues and has established himse...Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Piastri takes pole position at Chinese GP ahead of Russell, Hamilton fifth
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix as Mercedes’ George Russell brilliantly managed to insert himself between the two McLarens in Shanghai.Yahoo Sports - 23m -
NFL draft prospect ranks Commanders' Terry McLaurin as a top 3 wide receiver
One NFL draft prospect says Commanders WR Terry McLaurin is one of the league's three best wide receivers.Yahoo Sports - 30m -
Bid prepared: Man United looking to get ahead of Tottenham in race for £50m transfer
Manchester United are reportedly ready to spend £50million on the potential transfer of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.According to a report from Fichajes, the Red Devils are ...Yahoo Sports - 33m
More in Sports
-
Could Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White finish his NBA career a Hall of Famer?
What else would he need to do to make it?Yahoo Sports - 20m -
“I felt that I could improve” – Cucurella reveals aspect of his game he’s “very happy” to have improved
Marc Cucurella is happy he’s added goals to his game as he felt that’s one of the main things he needed to improve on.Cucurella is having a brilliant season for the Blues and has established himse...Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Piastri takes pole position at Chinese GP ahead of Russell, Hamilton fifth
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix as Mercedes’ George Russell brilliantly managed to insert himself between the two McLarens in Shanghai.Yahoo Sports - 23m -
NFL draft prospect ranks Commanders' Terry McLaurin as a top 3 wide receiver
One NFL draft prospect says Commanders WR Terry McLaurin is one of the league's three best wide receivers.Yahoo Sports - 30m -
Bid prepared: Man United looking to get ahead of Tottenham in race for £50m transfer
Manchester United are reportedly ready to spend £50million on the potential transfer of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.According to a report from Fichajes, the Red Devils are ...Yahoo Sports - 33m