Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Morris Brown
No. 25 Men's Basketball Roars Past Morris Brown, 85-38
1/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 2, 2002
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Sophomore Scott Merritt scored a career-high 22 points and No. 25 Marquette, playing without its leading scorer, beat Morris Brown 85-38 Wednesday night.
Sophomore guard Dwyane Wade, who leads Marquette (11-2) with a 19.3 scoring average, missed the final nonconference game because of a minor injury to his left knee.
The 6-foot-4 Wade, who also leads the team in rebounds, assists and steals, was injured in the Golden Eagles' 64-59 loss at No. 23 Wake Forest last Saturday and has not practiced with the team since. He briefly left that game in the first half but returned to finish with 22 points in 34 minutes. His status for Saturday's Conference USA opener at Charlotte is to be determined.
Odartey Blankson had 15 points for Marquette, which led 36-11 at halftime and snapped a two-game losing streak.
Larry Washington had 15 points to lead Morris Brown (1-13), which is playing as a Division I school for the first time. Chris Thomas added 10 points as the Wolverines, who are not in a conference, lost their 10th straight.
Joseph Dunn's 3-pointer with 16:05 left was the first field goal for Morris Brown since Washington's jumper with 7:58 to go in the first half.
Merritt, at 6-foot-10 the tallest player on the court, had 13 of Marquette's first 18 points and went to the bench with 8:53 left and the Golden Eagles ahead 18-9.
With Merritt on the bench, Marquette pushed the lead to 32-11 when Henry hit a 3-pointer, a layup and two free throws and Harris added two layups during a 14-0 run that gave Marquette command of the game.
Merritt hit two free throws to start an 8-0 run to open the second half as Marquette went up 44-11.
Dunn hit a 3-pointer and Amien Hicks added a dunk, but the Wolverines never got closer than 30 points the rest of the way.
