(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University men’s basketball team (2-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) cruised to a 100-82 victory over Southern (0-2, 0-0 SWAC) on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum. With the win, head coach Shaka Smart reached 100 career victories at the helm of the Golden Eagles.
Chase Ross led the way with 23 points, six rebounds, and a career-high six assists, while Sean Jones added 12 points and five assists. Ben Gold nearly recorded a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Caedin Hamilton and Zaide Lowery each contributed 12 points, with Lowery hitting three treys.
Marquette’s balanced attack powered the Golden Eagles ahead, shooting 50 percent overall and nearly 39 percent from three, while scoring 38 points in the paint and 31 on fastbreaks. The Golden Eagles also forced 13 turnovers, turning them into 16 points, and added 10 second-chance points.
Marquette started the game hot from beyond the arc, knocking down four of its first five three-point attempts, led by a pair from Gold, to open a five-point cushion early. Southern stayed in the fight and responded with a short run to briefly go in front, 20–18, midway through the half. The relentless Golden Eagle defense hunkered down, forcing five turnovers over a five-minute stretch to slow the Jaguar offense and regain momentum.
Lowery added a pair of treys to help fuel a 13–2 run, pushing MU back in front by five. Jones provided a spark, knifing through the defense for a three-point play and adding another pair of free throws to extend the MU margin. The Golden Eagles closed the half strong, knocking down three straight baskets to take a 43–37 advantage into the locker room.
Southern kept it close to start the second period, but the Golden Eagles responded on both ends of the court. Ross ran an efficient offense, recording multiple assists to a cutting Hamilton and finding Adrien Stevens from three-point range, helping MU to a 19–5 burst to open a 21-point margin.
It was all Marquette to close out the game, as Ross scored 14 total points in the second half. Freshman Michael Phillips II provided a spark off the bench, driving to the rim and knocking down three straight three-pointers in the closing minutes, carrying Marquette to a 100–82 victory.
UP NEXT
The Golden Eagles take on Indiana this Sunday, Nov. 9 inside the United Center in Chicago. Tipoff is set for 12:00 p.m
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