Nigel James Jr. helps Marquette beat UW-Green Bay in exhibition game

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Nigel James Jr. helps Marquette beat UW-Green Bay in exhibition game

Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel · Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Mon, Oct 19, 2026 ·

6 min read

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ASHWAUBENON – In his previous five seasons as head coach of the Marquette men's basketball team, Shaka Smart has liked to utilize closed-door scrimmages to prepare his team for regular-season battles.

But with the NCAA loosening its rules about public exhibitions against Division 1 foes, Smart is getting full dress rehearsals for his team.

MU had its first preseason game on Oct. 19, and the Golden Eagles earned an 87-60 victory at the Resch Center.

The Golden Eagles did have one closed-door scrimmage against Colorado on Oct. 10. But they will have a tough exhibition finale against Michigan State on Oct. 25.

"The guys treat them like real games," Smart said. "There was no difference between the way they were tonight and the way they will be at an away game."

Smart substituted liberally, so MU had a lot of different lineups on the floor, but here are takeaways from MU's victory:

Marquette guard Nigel James Jr. (0) passes the ball between UW-Green Bay center Maruan Cicic (20) and guard Clarence Payia (23) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette forward Alex Egbuonu (21) is fouled by UW-Green Bay guard Dontrell Hewlett (12) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette guard Colin Porter (2) fouls UW-Green Bay guard Mac Wrecke (4) during the second half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette guard Colin Porter (2) guards UW-Green Bay guard Stewart Erhart II (1) during the second half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

UW-Green Bay center Maruan Cicic (20) swats the ball away from Marquette guard Nigel James Jr. (0) during the second half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette forward Alex Egbuonu (21) intercepts a pass during the first half of their preseason against UW-Green Bay Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette head coach Shaka Smart is shown during the second half of their preseason against UW-Green Bay Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette forward Damarius Owens (9) drives past UW-Green Bay guard Ahmere Carson (2) and guard/forward Ne'quan Brown (7) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette guard Nolan Minessale (4) forces a jump ball with UW-Green Bay guard Stewart Erhart II (1) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette guard Nigel James Jr. (0) scores on UW-Green Bay guard Mac Wrecke (4) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

UW-Green Bay guard LeBron Thomas (22) fouls Marquette guard Adrien Stevens (10) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette forward Sananda Fru (11) guards UW-Green Bay guard Ahmere Carson (2) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette guard Adrien Stevens (10) takes advantage of a screen by forward Sananda Fru (11) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette guard Nigel James Jr. (0) turns the corner on UW-Green Bay guard Mac Wrecke (4) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

UW-Green Bay guard Ahmere Carson (2) fails to block a shot by Marquette forward Sananda Fru (11) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

UW-Green Bay forward Marcus Hall (13) tries to block a shot by Marquette guard Nigel James Jr. (0) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette forward Damarius Owens (9) contests a shot by UW-Green Bay guard Ahmere Carson (2) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

UW-Green Bay guard Stewart Erhart II (1) battles for the ball with Marquette guard Nolan Minessale (4) and forward Sananda Fru (11) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

UW-Green Bay guard LeBron Thomas (22) and Marquette guard Adrien Stevens (10) pursues the ball during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette forward Damarius Owens (9) is fouled by UW-Green Bay guard Ahmere Carson (2) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette forward Damarius Owens (9) steals the ball from UW-Green Bay guard/forward Ne'quan Brown (7) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette guard Adrien Stevens (10) scores on UW-Green Bay guard Ahmere Carson (2) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette forward Michael Phillips II (35) drives around UW-Green Bay guard Clarence Payia (23) during the first half of their preseason Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette guard Nolan Minessale (4) passes the ball on a fast break during the first half of their preseason against UW-Green Bay Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Marquette head coach Shaka Smart talks with forward Sananda Fru (11) during the second half of their preseason against UW-Green Bay Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center inn Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Nigel James is All-American level good

MU sophomore guard Nigel James is ready to take the leap to national star after earning Big East freshman of the year last season.

James played 30 minutes and affected the game in every way. He scored 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including two 3-pointers. He handed out 10 assists and pulled down four rebounds. The 6-foot guard leveraged his elite athleticism with a spectacular block at the rim and a steal that led to one of his signature one-handed dunks.

"He does two things exceptionally well," UW-Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb said. "He gets downhill … they all get downhill, they do what's called 'stampede the catch' where you're almost running into the catch ... so you're constantly on alert. Like he's so fast you're backing up.

"And then if you back up too far he can shoot the basketball. Now he can really shoot. And then if you close up, he's got an unbelievable hesitation. And they play with great space."

UW-Green Bay center Maruan Cicic (20) swats the ball away from Marquette guard Nigel James Jr. (0) during the second half of their preseason game Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Golden Eagles shoot well from 3-point range

MU shot an eye-catching 14 for 24 (58.3%) on 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles struggled last season from long range, finishing 289thin the country at 31.8%.

Is this a glimpse of what this MU team can be from beyond the arc?

"We've been emphasizing in practice shooting threes," said forward Royce Parham, who was 2 for 3 on 3-pointers. "We do drills at the end of practice to kind of get out of practice.

"We do this thing called ping shooting, like where we have to get a certain number (in a certain amount of time). So obviously guys have been in the gym every single day working on that."

Smart always talks about 3-point shooting being a "volatile statistic," but he liked the looks his team generated.

"I thought the 3s we took tonight were largely high-quality shots," he said. "If we shoot really high quality, step-in 3s in rhythm, we're going to shoot a good percentage. If we're shooting contested 3s, not in rhythm or not high percentage, then we won't shoot a high percentage."

Damarius Owens gets the starting nod

James, Parham, Adrien Stevens and Sananda Fru are probably locked in as starters, but the final spot has been a competition between Nolan Minessale and Damarius Owens.

Owens got the nod against Green Bay. He only took three shots, scoring two points.

Minessale played 20 minutes and had six points, three assists and three blocks.

"He's been terrific in the preseason," Smart said. "I'd say he's probably been our most consistent spirit out there on the court, in terms of bringing the right spirit and mind-set.

"The right disposition. The right unselfishness. Every day in practice. Now when you get in the game, there are different circumstances occur, things that come up. And you, as we like to say, have to shift from who you are walking around and who need to be, and rip someone's head off. Bottom line, for him, I told him 'You'll be a starter for us if you're an elite defender.' That's what we need with that group. He's certainly capable of that."

Ahmere Carson went off in first half for Green Bay

It's early in the preseason, so there is plenty to work on for MU.

The Golden Eagles had 15 turnovers, and both Fru and Parham were whistled for four fouls.

"I feel like sometimes as a team we turn the ball over too much," Parham said. "Obviously get all our plays down and get our defense set.

"And just come together as one. Obviously, it's not going to be perfect now."

Then there was UW-Green Bay guard Ahmere Carson, who lit up MU for 27 points in the first half, making all 10 of his shots.

"Any time a guy does that, you have to do something to break his rhythm," Smart said. "We did some zone. We did some zone to man.

"We tried some different matchups on him. We were ready the second half, if we needed to, to flat out double him. Fortunately, we didn't need to."

Carson had just two points after halftime, and drew the ire of Gottlieb.

"He was awful in the second half," Gottlieb said. "He didn't run back on defense after he turned the ball over. He didn't help out.

"You can see what the good Ahmere is. The issue with Ahmere Carson is there is no consistency. No consistency. He is an unbelievable talent. That's why we signed him, we knew he's an unbelievable talent. He's capable of great things. But he is not yet a winning basketball player or a great teammate."

Colin Porter is eligible to play for Marquette ... as of now

In the fluid situation of NCAA players seeking a fifth-year of eligibility, Colin Porter was in uniform for MU.

He was held out of MU's intrasquad scrimmage earlier this month when a temporary injunction was dissolved. But this week a judge in Kentucky granted another temporary injunction in Porter's case.

So the four-year starter at Liberty made his debut for MU and made a 3-pointer in nine minutes, while always showing some feisty defense.