Marquette’s Markus Howard proves he’s one of college basketball’s special shooters with 52-point game

Markus Howard doesn’t get the attention of Trae Young. He’s not on a nationally ranked team. But quietly, Marquette’s sophomore guard has turned into one of the very best shooters and scorers in college basketball.

The Providence Friars will never forget it.

Howard dropped 52 points in thrilling 95-90 overtime road win for Marquette over Providence on Wednesday. It’s the most points for college basketball player this year. He also ties former Friars guard MarShon Brooks for the most points ever scored in a Big East conference game.

Howard — who had 42 points entering overtime — shot 17-of-29 from the field and 11-of-19 from three-point range. The rest of Marquette’s team combined to hit only two three-pointers, and only one other scorer (Andrew Rowsey, 16 points) hit double figures.

Howard entered this game hitting 37.7 percent of his threes. That isn’t an overly impressive number, but anyone who has seen him shoot knows he’s one of the best marksmen in the sport.

Howard made 54.7 percent of his threes last season as one of the youngest freshmen in college basketball. The difference this season is his volume — he’s gone from taking 4.8 threes per game to 9.3 entering the night against Providence. As his attempts have risen, his percentage has fallen. That’s fine.

What we know is that Howard can get hot in a way no one else in college basketball this side of Trae Young can match. Consider this is the second time this year he’s hit 11 threes in a game. He also did it on Nov. 29 against Chicago State.

Providence simply couldn’t guard him:

Howard also made nine threes in a game last year against Xavier. He’s as legit as it gets as a shooter.

Howard made the game-tying free throw with 24 seconds left to help send the game to overtime. Of course he did. On the season, Howard is shooting 100 percent from the foul line.

After going 7-for-7 on free throws vs. Providence, Howard is now 45-for-45 on the season from the line.

This is no aberration. As a freshman, Howard made 56-for-63 free throws (89 percent) on the season.

Now Providence has a handy graphic to remember it forever.