Inside the Seven Minutes That Lost Marquette Basketball the Game vs Oklahoma
November 29, 2025
CHICAGO — Sometimes a game isn’t lost on the final possession. Sometimes it’s lost in a single, soul-crushing seven-minute stretch that turns a blowout into a funeral.
Marquette fans, this one’s going to sting for a while.
From 13:34 to 6:34 in the second half, the Golden Eagles turned a 12-point lead into a 4-point deficit. Zero made field goals. 0-for-8 from the floor. 21-5 Oklahoma run. Just like that, a statement win evaporated into a 75-74 gut-punch loss.
The Moment Everything Fell Apart
At the 13:34 mark, Chase Ross had just pushed the lead to 50-38. UIC’s arena sounded like the Fiserv Forum west. Marquette Twitter was already drafting “vintage Shaka” tweets.
Then the basketball apocalypse hit:
- 0 field goals in 7 minutes
- 10 missed layups on the night
- Nijel Pack dropping 24 like he’s still at Kansas State
- Oklahoma shooting 64% in the second half
By the Numbers: The 7-Minute Nightmare
13:34 → 6:34 (2nd half)
- Marquette: 5 points (all free throws)
- Oklahoma: 21 points
- Score swing: 21-5
- Lead change: +12 → –4
Shaka Smart’s Brutally Honest Quote
“We missed shots around the basket, didn’t make the right reads when we got into the paint, and then we missed some open threes. That’s a bad combo.”
The Almost-Comeback That Makes It Hurt More
Credit where it’s due — Marquette fought back. Nigel James Jr. and Chase Ross dragged them to within one in the final minute. Ross’s second three to tie it at 72 had the bench losing their minds.
But Derrion Reid’s corner triple with 35 seconds left was the dagger. Ross’s contested baseline fade at the buzzer? Heartbreak city.
Final Stats That Tell the Story
- Chase Ross: 21 pts, clutch but couldn’t get a clean look late
- Nigel James Jr.: 20 pts, freshman fearless
- Nijel Pack (OU): 24 pts on 9-14 FG, 5-7 3PT
- Marquette layups missed: 10 (yes, really)
What’s Next?
Valparaiso visits Milwaukee on Tuesday. Bounce-back spot or red flag? The Big East schedule waits for no one.
Marquette fans — drop your pain in the comments. Was it the missed bunnies? Pack going nuclear? Or just one of those nights?
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