Marquette advances to Sweet 16 for first time since 2013 - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — Marquette guard Tyler Kolek was determined to wake the program up from its prolonged March slumber.

The Golden Eagles hadn't made it out of the first weekend of the men's NCAA tournament since 2013. Kolek was determined to change that, and delivered in an 81-77 win over Colorado on Sunday.

The senior had 21 points and 11 assists against the No. 10-seeded Buffaloes — his second double-double in as many games during this tournament — and helped No. 2 seed Marquette punch its ticket for Dallas, where it will meet NC State on Friday.

For this group of players, Kolek said Sunday's win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was a «long time coming,» adding that «coming back this year we had a vengeance. I told the guys before the game, 'This moment has been in our nightmares and we're not running from it anymore.'»

In his second game since returning from an oblique injury that had kept him out since Feb. 28, Kolek played all but 26 seconds of Sunday's win over Colorado (26-11). During one stretch in the second half, he scored or assisted on four straight possessions when Marquette (27-9) suddenly found itself trailing.

The Golden Eagles led 45-34 at halftime as Colorado struggled to knock down 3-pointers. But after the Buffaloes found their form in the second half, including three buckets from junior guard KJ Simpson, Colorado took a 55-54 lead.

Kolek immediately responded with back-to-back buckets that gave Marquette the lead again. His performance also steadied the Golden Eagles as junior guard Kam Jones battled foul trouble for the entire second half.

Kolek, who led the NCAA in assists per game during the regular season, said the offense ran through him a bit more than usual. And when he found open teammates, they knocked