Marquette closes regular season with 68-62 upset of No. 4 UConn at Fiserv Forum

Late defensive stand, free throws seal Marquette win in Milwaukee

Marquette men’s basketball ended its regular season Saturday, March 7, 2026, with a 68-62 victory over No. 4 Connecticut at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, denying the Huskies a chance to claim a share of the Big East regular-season title.

Marquette trailed 35-33 at halftime, then took control after the break with a sustained scoring burst and held on through a late UConn rally. The Golden Eagles improved to 12-19 overall, while UConn fell to 27-4.

How the game turned in the second half

Marquette moved in front early in the second half and built a double-digit cushion. Royce Parham scored eight straight points during an 11-0 run that swung momentum and put Marquette ahead for good. With 5:26 remaining, Marquette led 61-49, but UConn responded with pressure and timely stops to cut the margin to two possessions, then to 64-62 in the closing seconds.

The decisive sequence came in the final moments. With UConn down two and looking for a tying basket, Silas Demary Jr. drove into the lane and attempted a shot that was heavily contested by Marquette forward Ben Gold. The attempt did not fall, Marquette secured the loose ball, and Chase Ross was fouled with one second left. Ross’ free throws in the final second extended the lead and established the final margin.

Key performers and team trends

• Nigel James Jr. led Marquette with 19 points.
• Chase Ross scored 14 points and finished the game at the foul line in the final second.
• Royce Parham added 13 points, including the second-half stretch that helped create separation.
• Adrien Stevens contributed 11 points, including key scoring late in the first half.
• For UConn, Silas Demary Jr. scored 17 points and Tarris Reed Jr. added 16.

UConn’s perimeter shooting was a defining factor: the Huskies made 3 of 24 attempts from 3-point range. Marquette’s ability to contest without fouling on the final possession, followed by defensive rebounding under pressure, proved decisive after UConn erased most of a 12-point deficit in the final 5:30.

Final-second technical fouls and what comes next

The closing seconds also included a major sideline development. UConn coach Dan Hurley was assessed two technical fouls and ejected in the final second while arguing the no-call on Demary’s drive. The technicals produced additional free throws that widened the final score beyond a one-possession game.

Marquette’s win combined a second-half surge, late-game defense, and free-throw execution after UConn’s final push narrowed the gap.

Both teams now turn to postseason play, with the Big East tournament beginning next week in New York. Marquette enters after winning three of its last four games to close the regular season, while UConn heads in with one of the conference’s top records but coming off a road loss defined by cold outside shooting and a frantic finish.