Nov. 20, 2009

MU-Grambling State Game Notes (PDF)

The Marquette University men's basketball team continues its season-opening four-game homestand Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. when the team hosts Grambling State in non-conference action. Sports32 will feature the live broadcast, with Dennis Krause (play-by-play) and Jim McIlvaine (analyst) calling the action on the court. MU wraps up its homestand Tuesday against South Dakota before heading to Orlando, Fla., for the Old Spice Classic. The Golden Eagles will face Xavier in the first round and either Creighton or Michigan on day two.

MU Hands Out Long-Distance Calling Cards
In Tuesday's 86-60 victory at home over Maryland Eastern Shore, Marquette finished 10-of-26 from behind the 3-point line against the Hawks' zone defense.

Six different players knocked down shots from long distance, including the first-ever by junior Jimmy Butler. Also contributing treys versus UMES were Lazar Hayward, David Cubillan, Dwight Buycks, Darius Johnson-Odom and Maurice Acker.

Previous to Tuesday, the last time MU had at least six players drain a 3-pointer in a game was in the team's BIG EAST Tournament semifinal matchup with Pittsburgh in 2007-08. In the 68-61 setback, Hayward (2), Jerel McNeal, Acker, Cubillan, Wesley Matthews and Dan Fitzgerald each made at least one trey.

Golden Eagles To Face Tigers For Third Time
Marquette and Grambling State will meet for the third time Saturday night at the Bradley Center.

The most recent matchup came during the 2003-04 campaign and resulted in a 71-55 MU victory. The first meeting, a 105-74 Golden Eagle victory, came the previous season during Marquette's run to the Final Four.

MU is 12-0 all-time against programs from the 10 teams currently in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Marquette assistant coach Scott Monarch served in a similar capacity with the Tigers during the 1998-99 season.