MILWAUKEE --- Just before taking the court for the conference opener against No. 15 Villanova, Marquette coach Buzz Williams gave his players a reminder: Their seniors have never started 2-0 in the Big East.
One down, one to go.
Jerel McNeal scored 24 points, including a critical 3-pointer down the stretch that helped power the Golden Eagles to a 79-72 victory over the Wildcats on Thursday. Marquette (12-2, 1-0 Big East) has another home game Sunday against Cincinnati, giving the Golden Eagles a shot at their first fast start to conference play.
"It's huge," Wesley Matthews said. "We've never started out 2-0. Buzz had told us that -- the last thing he said to us in the locker room. This is a tough conference. Wins are tough to get by."
Especially against a ranked opponent known for its defense.
"I think they're one of the better defenses in the country, actually," McNeal said.
Coming into Thursday's game, Villanova (12-2, 0-1) was allowing 57.6 points and holding opponents to 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Marquette shot 46 percent on Thursday, including 41.7 percent from 3-point range.
Matthews scored 19 and Dominic James added 17.
"We just played a very good team with great veteran guards," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "Those guys are fun to watch, and they just controlled the game."
Lazar Hayward added 15, giving the Golden Eagles four double-digit scorers against one of the Big East's best defensive teams. Hayward has scored 14 points or more in Marquette's past six games.
Villanova forced 19 turnovers, tying Marquette's season high.
But the Golden Eagles committed only six turnovers in the second half.
McNeal's 3-pointer with 3:55 remaining capped a 7-0 run by Marquette, giving the Golden Eagles an eight-point lead that Villanova couldn't chip away in the closing minutes.
With Marquette leading by 1 point and 5:39 left, the decisive run began with a long jumper by Matthews to put Marquette ahead 61-58. Dante Cunningham then was called for traveling under the basket, handing the ball back to the Golden Eagles.
Matthews then drained a long turnaround jumper, extending the lead to 63-58.
"He was a little bit quiet up to that point," McNeal said. "After he got that first shot, and the second one, we knew he was rolling."
Matthews scored 16 points in the second half.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010. All Rights Reserved.
