Eagles, Howard set three-point shooting marks
MARQUETTE 95, CHICAGO STATE 69
Marquette’s record book needed some updates in the three-point shooting section after a 95-69 victory over Chicago State at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Wednesday.
The Golden Eagles (5-2) set a school mark by draining 18 three-pointers and sophomore guard Markus Howard set the individual mark by hitting 11 from beyond the arc.
The previous program record for team three-pointers in a game was 15 set three times: against Cincinnati in 2009, Penn State in 1995 and Farleigh Dickinson in 1994.
Howard had shared the previous individual mark of nine, which he accomplished against Xavier last season.
Mark Anglavar also had 9 threes in a game against Butler in 1990.
The Golden Eagles also set a school record with 39 three-point attempts. The previous record was 38 against Memphis in 1995.
Howard finished with 33 points on 11of-16 shooting, with only one attempt coming from two-point range.
Howard’s record game overshadowed a strong game from Andrew Rowsey, who had 26 points on 6-of-12 threepoint shooting.
Jamal Cain (1 of 5) was the only other Golden Eagles player to hit a three in the game.
The three-point display also covered up some lackluster defense in the first half against the Cougars (2-8).
In the first half, Chicago State frequently punctured Marquette’s defense and shot 15 of 27 (55.6%). The Golden Eagles led, 48-40, at the break.
Marquette’s defense sharpened in the second half, allowing the Cougars to shoot 9 of 31 in the final 20 minutes.
Marquette’s three freshmen — Greg Elliott, Cain and Theo John — also settled into their bigger roles.
With junior guard Haanif Cheatham’s departure from the team on Monday, those youngsters are head coach Steve Wojciechowski’s only scholarship options off the bench.
Elliott, in particular, stood out. The 6foot-3 guard had seven points, nine assists and fuve rebounds in 21 minutes. He averaged just over 13 minutes per game when Cheatham was on the team in the first five games.
Cain finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. He was playing seven minutes per night in the first five games.
John fouled out after playing 14 minutes.
MU sophomore wing Sacar Anim, now installed as the starter with Cheatham gone, had a solid game with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
MU’s offense shot 17 of 30 in the second half, including 7 of 15 from long distance.
The game got so out of hand Wojciechowski allowed freshman walk-on Mike Lelito from Mt. Prospect, Ill., to see his first action, playing three minutes.
Fred Sims Jr. led Chicago State with 20 points, and Deionte Simmons chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds.