Phoenix’s head coach Brian Wardle, who played for Marquette from 1997-2001, won his first game against his alma mater. He was previously 0-2.
Both teams struggled early – Marquette turned the ball over twice in the first two-and-a-half minutes, and Green Bay turned it over three times in the same time frame.
The Phoenix pulled in front early in front of an energetic home crowd, but a Wilson desperation three as the shot clock wound down gave the Golden Eagles the spark they needed to get back into the game.
Marquette finished the first half on a 15-4 run, 11 of which came on Wilson field goals.
The Golden Eagles’ lead didn’t last for long. Marquette coach Buzz Williams started the second half with a similar one that he ended the first half with: without Chris Otule and Davante Gardner.
The Phoenix were able to hold Wilson scoreless for most of the second half. With 4:46 left in the game, he had a tip dunk that put the Golden Eagles up 44-43.
The teams continued to trade points as time wound down on the clock. The Golden Eagles had the ball down 48-47 with 11 seconds left. Jake Thomas missed a three-point shot. The Phoenix’s Alec Brown got the rebound, and was fouled with just over one second left in the game. He split the free throws, and Juan Anderson threw a desperation three that was no good.
This in-state match-up was the first time Marquette has traveled to Green Bay to play the Phoenix. The Golden Eagles lead the series 9-3. The last time these two teams met was Dec. 10, 2011. Marquette won that game 79-61.
This was Marquette’s final nonconference road game of the season. Their next game is Saturday vs. LSU at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.