Date: December 4, 2024 (Wednesday)
Venue: Hilton Coliseum, Ames, IA
Broadcast: ESPN+
This Wednesday, the undefeated Marquette Golden Eagles (8-0) will challenge the Iowa State Cyclones (5-1) at Hilton Coliseum.
In their previous game, the Marquette Golden Eagles asserted their dominance over Western Carolina, winning decisively with a score of 94-62. The Golden Eagles committed 16 personal fouls compared to Western Carolina’s 13. Marquette showcased their shooting skills by hitting 8 out of 27 attempts from beyond the arc. Western Carolina managed to shoot 66.7% from the free-throw line, converting 8 of 12 attempts. The Golden Eagles had a strong rebounding performance, collecting a total of 35 rebounds (8 offensive and 27 defensive) while Western Carolina struggled, finishing without any blocks. Marquette recorded 21 assists and secured 15 steals during the game. On the defensive end, Marquette allowed the opposition to hit 38.3% of their shots, with Western Carolina converting 23 out of 60 attempts. The Golden Eagles’ shooting stats were also impressive, finishing with a field goal percentage of 51.4% (37 of 72) and hitting 14 of their 40 three-point attempts.
Kameron Jones was a standout player, contributing 20 points on 9 of 14 shooting in 25 minutes of play, along with 6 rebounds and 10 assists.
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Entering this matchup, Marquette holds a flawless 8-0 record. They average just 9.8 turnovers per game and commit around 16.0 fouls on average. The Golden Eagles grab 34.4 rebounds per game and have accumulated 126 assists this season—ranking them 94th in Division I for assists. From long range, Marquette shoots 34.0% (81 of 238), and they maintain a 74.5% free throw accuracy. Their scoring average of 84.5 points per game places them 41st in Division I, with a field goal percentage of 48.5%.
Defensively, Marquette forces an average of 18.0 turnovers per game and commits 15.6 fouls. They rank 279th in college basketball for assists allowed, yielding 116 this season. The defense permits opponents to shoot 41.8% from the field (185 of 443) while conceding 33.6 rebounds per game. Opponents are shooting 29.9% from beyond the arc, and Marquette ranks 36th in college basketball, allowing only 63.6 points per game.
The Iowa State Cyclones celebrated a convincing 99-71 victory against Colorado in their last game. They totaled 28 rebounds, including 6 offensive boards and 22 defensive rebounds. Iowa State committed 9 turnovers while stealing the ball 13 times. Colorado committed 17 fouls, granting the Cyclones 23 free throw attempts, of which they converted 18 for an impressive 78.3% rate. From three-point range, Iowa State excelled, nailing 11 of 25 attempts (44.0%). Overall, they shot 60.3% from the field, hitting 35 of 58 shots. Defensively, the Cyclones allowed Colorado to convert 23 of 55 attempts (41.8%), while Colorado hit 8 of 19 from deep (42.1%) and went 17 of 18 from the charity stripe (94.4%). Iowa State gave up a total of 23 rebounds, including 6 on the offensive glass.
Milan Momcilovic played a pivotal role for Iowa State, scoring 24 points in 29 minutes with 3 assists, and displayed remarkable accuracy with 9 of 13 shooting (69.2% field goal percentage), alongside 1 rebound.
With a current record of 5-1, Iowa State boasts an offensive efficiency of 50.9%, ranking 14th in college basketball. They have scored a total of 521 points this season, averaging 86.8 points per game. On the boards, the Cyclones pull in 33.3 rebounds per contest and dish out around 16.2 assists per game (68th in college basketball), with only 9.0 turnovers on average. They also manage to commit 15.5 fouls per game and convert 77.8% of their free throw attempts.
Defensively, Iowa State ranks 58th in Division I for points allowed per game, conceding 65.0 points. They force 16.7 turnovers on average and allow opponents to shoot 42.1% from the field (164th in college basketball). Their defensive strategy permits opponents to connect on 31.1% of three-point attempts (42 of 135), while their adversaries are making 78.8% of their free throws. The Cyclones relinquish an average of 12.5 assists and 29.3 rebounds per game, ranking 152nd and 14th in the nation, respectively.
Free Prediction: Bet on Marquette (+5.5)
