Recap: Marquette vs. Rutgers

By Sports Network

The Sports Network

Jerel McNeal filled the stat sheet with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, as No. 25 Marquette blew open a relatively close game at the half to pound Rutgers, 78-48, in Big East action at the Bradley Center.

Lazar Hayward and Dominic James each scored 13 points and Wesley Matthews added 12 for the Golden Eagles (20-6, 10-5 Big East), who got to the 20-win magic number thanks to 56.1 percent shooting from the floor and eight three- pointers.

Corey Chandler led Rutgers (10-18, 2-13) with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and J.R. Inman scored just under his season average with 11 points. The Scarlet Knights have lost seven straight games partly thanks to an anemic offense. That fact was highlighted by 38.9 percent shooting and a 5-of-20 effort from beyond the arc.

The Scarlet Knights trailed just 35-29 at the half, but Marquette quickly pushed the edge to double digits on layups by James and McNeal. Maurice Acker's jumper near the midway point of the second half pushed the advantage to 55-35.

James' three a little over five minutes later made the score 65-40, as the Scarlet Knights scored just 11 points over the second half's first 16:30.

The Golden Eagles cruised to victory from there.

Game Notes