In a decisive matchup, Marquette defeated Purdue 76-58, with Stevie Mitchell leading the scoring with 21 points, while Kam Jones achieved a remarkable triple-double, contributing 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Jones' triple-double marks a significant milestone, being the first for a Marquette player since Dwyane Wade accomplished the feat during the 2003 Final Four.

This game underscores the growing recognition of the importance of college veterans over five-star freshmen in basketball, with returning players proving to be invaluable assets.

Kam Jones, alongside Auburn's Johni Broome, exemplifies the impact of experienced players; his standout performance against Purdue highlights this trend.

Following the game, Marquette's coach Shaka Smart praised Purdue's basketball program for its consistency, even in the absence of star player Zach Edey.

As a result of this victory, Marquette climbed to No. 8 in CBS Sports' Top 25 And 1 rankings, while Purdue fell to No. 9, influencing the rankings of other teams such as Alabama and Duke.

Prior to facing Marquette, Purdue had an impressive 39-game winning streak in regular-season nonconference games, highlighting the significance of Marquette's victory.