Marquette, MI – February 17, 2022 – The Marquette Redmen hosted cross town rival Negaunee Miners on Thursday evening. The Victor’s Cup game was broadcast live on 103-FXD.
Q1: Negaunee started the quarter as the winners of the Jon’s Auto Opening Tip. The Miner’s Brody Bell began the game at the foul line going two for two for the early Negaunee lead. Marquette answered back with David Eberhard driving the lane and going off the glass to even it up. After a Jonas Bicik block, Jordan DeMay was able to score and take the lead for the Redmen.
Redmen warm upBicik turned up the heat in the paint and drew the foul. Jonas Bicik went two for two from the stripe, and Marquette held a four point advantage. The Redmen piled on to their lead with a Justin Jurmu three pointer. Negaunee tried to turn things around offensively but Jordan DeMay was able make a steal to bring Marquette back on offense.
The Miners were able to cause foul troubles for Marquette as they racked up five team fouls in the first. Brody Bell found himself at the line yet again, and went two for two but one was canceled due to a lane violation. A failed three from DeMay led to a Bicik rebound and put back plus a foul. Bicik couldn’t convert the three point play, but Wyatt Lakenen was able to get the rebound for the Redmen.David Eberhard unfortunately picked up an offensive foul, and put Negaunee in the bonus for the remainder of the half.
That didn’t stop the strong play by Marquette. DeMay found his mark with another three-pointer to put the Redmen up by double digits. Jonas Bicik followed it up with a triple of his own to build the Redmen lead. Negaunee was able to score their first field goal with a minute left in the quarter. Mason Sager was able to send home a three-pointer, and able to draw the foul on the following possession. Sager converted on both the free throws to complete his own 5-0 run. Marquette ended the quarter with the last shot and splashed a three home by Bicik.
Q2: The final quarter of the half opened with a foul by Bicik sending Mason Sager to the line for Negaunee. Sager was able to sink both shots to bridge the score gap a bit. Jordan DeMay answered with a wide open three. Wyatt Lakenen was able to steal a pass and go the other way for the easy righty layup. Marquette built on to their commanding lead, 26-10.
Gerald Johnson looked to turn things around for the Miners as his shot found its mark. Johnson followed his points with an assist to Gavin Downey who drained a three-pointer. Marquette looked to fight off the Miners as Bicik drove the lane and picked up the foul. He landed both free throws to cool down Negaunee. John Weber picked up a foul from Sager driving the baseline. Weber’s shot was no good due to lane violation, but Marquette remained on top.
Redmen vs MinersThe Miners had multiple chances after offensive rebound but couldn’t find the bottom of the net. Finally the Redmen snagged a board, and rifled a pass down court to Lakenen for the layup. The Redmen were able to cause a turnover, and Bicik able to draw another foul. Marquette continued full court pressure against the Miners.
Negaunee fought through the pressure and found Gavin Downey outside the perimiter to land a three. Easton Clements answered back with a layup to bring the Marquette lead to 15. The Redmen defense remained physical, but that led to sending Negaunee to the charity stripe. After a successful pair of free throws, the Miners’ Brody Bell was able to get a shot off in the paint before being fouled by Bicik. Bell went two for two with his free throws.
Easton Clements extended the Redmen lead back to 13 after a pair of free throws. Marquette stayed with their full court press defense. Negauneee’s Bell got the pass from Johnson and was fouled on his way to the basket. Brody Bell went one to two at the line to make the score, 37-23 in favor of Marquette. Redmen Clements was able to get a shot to land off the glass to build on to his big second quarter off the bench. Marquette closed out on top 39-23
Halftime: Marquette 39 , Negaunee 23
Q3: Marquette started the second half with possession, but a pass was stolen by Mason Sager right away. Sager was able to split a couple of Marquette defenders, and was fouled on the way up going two for two at the line. Negaunee implemented a half court trap to open things up. The Redmen couldn’t get their shots to fall, as Negaunee was able to send home a three to bring their deficit to 11.
Wyatt Lakenen was able to find a cutting DeMay who went off the glass for two. David Eberhard followed with a steal and bucket to bring momentum back to Marquette. Mason Sager was able to draw the foul on the next Miner possession. Sager stayed perfect in the quarter from the stripe. Both of the teams played physically in the paint which resulted in foul trouble to both. The Miners still had difficulty finding rhythm with their offense, but shot well from the free throw line.
Ty Jacobson scored his first bucket of the night with a three for Negaunee. Mason Sager able to cause a turnover and cash in some points himself as the Miners were back to single digit deficit. Marquette brought it back to double digits with a shot by Lakenen. The Miners were rebounding well and getting extra looks on offense. Jace Turri found himself at the line for Negaunee for his first points of the night bringing the Miners within eight.
Barb Crill Gymnasium is packed with fans!Jonas Bicik answered back by going hard in the paint and drawing the foul plus the bucket. He converted the three point play, and Marquette stayed up by double digits. The Miners continued to draw the fouls as Sager once again landed at the free throw line going one for two, ending his perfect streak on the night. The Redmen were faced with adversity down the stretch of the quarter, with calls not going their way. Marquette wouldn’t let it affect them as they remained aggressive on both sides of the ball. Bicik sent home a three to build on the Redmen lead and close out the quarter.
Q4: The final eight minutes started with Negaunee basketball. Brody Bell was able to rattle home a three for the Miners to open up scoring in the quarter. Bicik handled the pass from John Weber to send a bucket home for Marquette. The Miners were once again able to draw another foul as Mason Sager also landed the bucket. Sager went two for two at the line and Negaunee was within nine.
Marquette showed they were able to play the foul game as well. David Eberhard found himself at the line and split the free throws to bring the lead back to 10. Negaunee’s Gavin Downey drew the foul against Marquette’s full court defense. Downey couldn’t get the shot to land, as Marquette came down with the rebound. David Eberhard got a pass in the paint, and was fouled leading to two free throws.
Eberhard landed both of his shots. Negaunee answered back with Gavin Jacobson getting his first points of the night. Johnson was able to cause a turnover but was all for not with DeMay hustling down and hitting the ball out of bounds. Justin Jurmu found himself at the free throw line with Marquette being in the double bonus. Jurmu went one for two to build the Redmen lead to 11.
After two back and forth possessions, Jordan DeMay was finally able to send it home with a lefty layup. DeMay was then fouled on a rebound on the other end which brought him to the charity stripe going two for two. Easton Clements had a wide open lane to drive and get the two points for Marquette. The Redmen defense stayed tough with Eberhard stealing the ball right out of a Miner’s hand and went the other way. Eberhard was able to draw a foul from Sager to add one more to the Marquette total.
Eberhard and Vermaat had a two on one scenario where Eberhard finished the play with the layup. The Miners continued to struggle with their shooting and inability to find the bottom of the basket. Marquette continued to build on to their lead to close out the game and walk out of Barb Crill Gymnasium as the winners of The Victor’s Cup.
FINAL: Marquette 68 – Negaunee 47
Joe Boogren Player of the Game: Jonas Bicik 29pts, Marquette
The Redmen are back on the court with a makeup game against the Kingsford Flivvers on Thursday the 23rd. Tip off will be at 7pm live on Fox Sports Marquette 105.1-99.9!
LISTEN TO THE FULL BROADCAST HERE
