Marquette University Athletics
Golden Eagles Look To Match Best Start In Four Years
12/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2001
From the Associated Press
Marquette looks to continue routing its opponents as it tries to get off to its best start since the 1997-98 season when it faces Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
The 14th-ranked Golden Eagles haven't played since beating Fordham 79-55 on Dec. 8 to run their record to 9-0. The win was also Marquette's sixth at home this season, the first time it has won its first six home games since 1997 when it won its first seven.
Marquette continued its season-long dominance against Fordham, shooting a season-high 56.6 percent en route to its fourth win this season by more than 20 points.
When the Rams cut the lead to nine in the second half, the Golden Eagles responded with a 27-12 run to end the game.
"We know a lot of people look at us and say, 'They're undefeated. Are they going to give up?"' said sophomore guard Dwyane Wade, who led the Golden Eagles with 16 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
"No. Marquette wants to be known as a team that no matter what the score is, we're always going to fight. We want to fight if we're down 20 or up 20. We want to be known as a fighter."
The Golden Eagles have won by an average of 20.6 points per game this season, and have their highest ranking in the AP poll since finishing 10th following the 1978-79 season.
The dominance should continue against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a member of the Southwest Athletic Conference.
The Golden Lions have dropped all nine of their games this season, getting outscored by an average of 26 points. All nine contests have been on the road, where they play their first 13 games this season.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is coached by Harold Blevins, who has a career record of 35-130 in eight seasons with the Golden Lions.
Following Wednesday's game, Marquette begins a stretch of playing four of its next five on the road with a visit to Wisconsin on Saturday. Arkansas-Pine Bluff visits Mississippi on Dec. 29.
Wednesday's game is the first-ever meeting between the teams.
