Tyler Kolek #11 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles the ball against Kadin Shedrick #5 of the Texas Longhorns in the first half at Fiserv Forum on December 06, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Max Abmas recorded a team-high 25 points, but No. 12/16 Texas (6-2) dropped an 86-65 decision at No. 8/7 Marquette (7-2) on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum. Abmas topped the 20-point mark for his third consecutive game.
Abmas converted a season-best 10-of-19 field goals, including 3-of-8 from three-point range, and added three rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes. Sophomore guard Chendall Weaver tallied a season-high 10 points (4-6 FG) and four rebounds in a season-best 26 minutes, while sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell added a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with eight points, three assists and two blocks in 37 minutes.
Texas jumped out to an 11-5 advantage after Abmas opened the contest by hitting three-straight three-pointers and Mitchell added a put-back at the 17:10 mark. The Golden Eagles responded with a 6-0 run over the next five minutes to even the score at 11-11 following a pair of Chase Ross free throws with 12:34 remaining.
A Brock Cunningham three-pointer gave the Longhorns a 20-18 edge at the 9:37 mark, but Marquette used an 11-0 spurt over the next four minutes to build a 29-20 cushion after a Kam Jones three-pointer with 5:49 left. Texas answered with an 8-0 run to trim the margin to 29-28 following an Abmas jumper at the 3:11 mark, before the Golden Eagles scored the final 13 points of the half to take a 42-28 advantage into the break.
A Mitchell layup cut the deficit to 47-33 with 17:33 remaining, but Marquette went on a 15-3 run over the next five-and-a-half minutes to increase its cushion to 62-36 after a Tyler Kolek layup at the 11:56 mark. The Longhorns were unable to trim the margin to below 20 points for the remainder of the contest.
Texas is back in action when it hosts Houston Christian on Saturday, Dec. 9. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central at Moody Center.