University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
10-3,1-1Big East
Marquette
8-5,0-2Big East
Martin and Cole Lead UConn Past Marquette
12/22/2021 12:08:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MILWAUKEE, Wis.- It was a grand night for the UConn men's basketball team. In fact, for graduate student guard R.J.Cole, it meant two grand.
The Huskies bounced back from a BIG EAST Conference opening loss to even their league record with a 78-70 victory at Marquette Tuesday night. Guards Tyrese Martin and R.J. Cole combined for 45 points to lead the win on a night that featured a milestone for each of them. Cole scored 20 points to lift him over 2,000 points for his college career, while senior guard Martin poured in a career-high 25 to send him over the 1,000-career point total.
The Huskies (10-3, 1-1) started the game hot as sophomore Andre Jackson would sink a three to kickstart the UConn offense. The back and forth first half was capped off by a Martin buzzer beater that would give the Huskies the 43-37 lead heading into the locker room.
UConn welcomed back sophomore Adama Sanogo who scored six points and added four rebounds off the bench, returning to action after missing the last four games with an abdominal strain.
UConn would push their lead to 58-47 when Cole would hit a three with 13:10 left to play. Marquette (8-5,0-2) would close the gap and pull within one with 4:15 left to play on a layup scored by Justin Lewis. Martin and Cole, however, refused to allow the Golden Eagles take the lead as Martin would score six straight and Cole would add a jumper to cap off an 8-0 run to extend UConn's lead.
Martin would finish shooting 9-16 from the field. Cole, who had 14 second-half points, would also add seven assists, and Andre Jackson would finish with 10 points and seven rebounds to help secure the 78-70 win.
Up Next
UConn will break for Christmas before returning to the BIG EAST road, traveling to Cincinnati to take on Xavier University on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on FS1.
