ESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsMar 7, 2026, 03:26 PM ET
UConn coach Danny Hurley was ejected in the final second as Marquette hung on for a 68-62 victory Saturday that prevented the fourth-ranked Huskies from winning a share of the Big East regular-season title and hurt their hopes for a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament.
UConn (27-4, 17-3) trailed 64-62 when the Huskies’ Silas Demary Jr. drove to the basket while being defended by Ben Gold. Demary’s shot hit the glass and rim before the ball bounced off a couple of players and hit the floor.
Marquette’s Chase Ross won the battle for the loose ball and was fouled with one second left. Hurley argued the lack of a foul call and was whistled for two technical fouls before heading to the locker room while shaking his head.
Replays of that final second showed Hurley stepping onto the court and approaching referee John Gaffney and putting his chest near the official’s right shoulder. Hurley said after the game that he yelled “Foul! Foul!” at the back of Gaffney’s head, but didn’t bump into him.
UConn was attempting to tie No. 18 St. John’s for the Big East regular-season title, though the Red Storm already had clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament starting Wednesday in New York.
Demary scored 17 points and Tarris Reed Jr. added 16 for UConn, which shot 3-for-24 from 3-point range. It was their worst 3-point field goal shooting percentage since going 2-for-16 during a Nov. 25, 2021, loss to Michigan State.
Nigel James Jr. scored 19 points, Ross had 14, Royce Parham 13 and Adrien Stevens 11 for Marquette (12-19, 7-13). The Golden Eagles have closed a disappointing regular season by winning three of their last four games and posting their first win as an unranked team over a top-five opponent since beating No. 4 Wisconsin in December 2020.
Parham scored eight straight points during an 11-0 run early in the second half that put Marquette ahead for good. Marquette led by 12 with 5½ minutes left before UConn rallied.
Both teams await the identity of their first opponents in the Big East tournament. Marquette opens tournament play Wednesday. UConn will first play in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Ross made four of six free throws to account for the final margin.