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men_s_basketball:chicago_state_11_18_08

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Marquette downs Chicago State after scoring most points since 1980

MILWAUKEE – Marquette scored its most points in almost 28 years, but the Golden Eagles' defensive performance in the second half of a 106-87 victory over Chicago State on Monday night left first-year coach Buzz Williams disappointed.

“It's not poor me, it's not pity me, I'm not trying to be a prophet or foresee the future, but we can't allow teams to score 51 points [in the second half] in our building,” Williams said. “To be honest with you, you can't allow teams to score 51 points whether you're playing at a park or no matter what gym.”

Wesley Matthews scored 26 points for the Golden Eagles (2-0), who last scored 106 points against Charleston on Dec. 1, 1980. He shot 7-for-14 from the field and made all 10 of his free throws to go with nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.

Matthews had 27 points in the season opener and is one of the reasons the Golden Eagles (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) have scored at least 90 points in consecutive games for the first time since the 1994-95 season.

“I think he's a lot more comfortable,” said teammate Lazar Hayward, who scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half. “This offense is predicated on guys who can do a lot of different things. That's why he stands out a little more than last year.”

Jerel McNeal added 17 points, six assists and four rebounds for Marquette.

David Holston had 33 points for Chicago State (1-1), including seven 3-pointers as he was 11-for-22 from the field.

But the guard, who had 32 points in the season-opener against St. Xavier, played just 11 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.

Several players from both teams were in foul trouble as a total of 56 fouls were called, including 29 on the Cougars. Sixty-eight free throws were attempted with Marquette going 30-for-43 from the line.

“It was different, very different,” Hayward said. “In our huddles we made sure to remind each other to move on to the next play. We can't control the [referees], all we can control is the next possession. We kept reminding each other to move on to the next play.”

Williams agreed.

“There were 56 fouls,” he said. “We probably handled it as well as we could.”

Matthews converted a turnover into a layup to cap an 11-2 run that gave Marquette its biggest lead, 79-57, with 11:12 remaining.

Chicago State then scored the next 10 points, capped by a layup by Hajji Martin, to trim the deficit to 79-67 with 8:17 left.

The teams basically exchanged baskets – or free throws – the rest of the way.

A 3-pointer by Mike Wilson cut Marquette's lead to 96-85 with 2:53 to play, but Marquette scored 10 of the games final 12 points.

The Golden Eagles shot 52.3 percent (34-65) in the game.

“Buzz reminds us every day that we're not an offensive-oriented team,” Hayward said. “We can score baskets. That'll never be a problem. We want our defense to create our offense.”

Holston scored 12 of his team's first 16 points but went to the bench with three fouls with 8:25 left in the first half. Marquette closed the half on an 18-6 run for a 52-36 lead.

John Cantrell finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals for Chicago State.

men_s_basketball/chicago_state_11_18_08.1227019973.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/12/07 16:39 (external edit)