Men's Basketball Looks for Continued Success on Road

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Nov. 27, 2006

MILWAUKEE - Coming off a 73-62 victory over No. 9/8 Duke, Nov. 21, in the championship of the CBE Classic, the No. 17/13 Marquette men's basketball team will look for its fourth consecutive victory away from home tonight at 7 p.m. against Valparaiso at Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind.

With a win tonight, the Golden Eagles would start 7-0 for the third time under head coach Tom Crean. It would also be just the fifth perfect start through seven games for MU since the 1973-74 season.

Their sixth-straight win came against Duke after a season-high 25 points by sophomore guard Dominic James. Classmate Jerel McNeal added 17 points while pulling down a team-high six rebounds and making six steals. The Golden Eagle defense caused 19 turnovers and held the Blue Devils to 37.7 percent shooting from the field.

James (18.0), McNeal (14.0) and sophomore guard Wesley Matthews (11.8) all average in double-figures in scoring for Marquette. Junior forward Ousmane Barro leads the squad with 6.5 rebounds per game, with McNeal right behind, averaging 5.7.

Valparaiso enters the game with a 3-1 record and is 1-0 at home. Urule Igbavboa leads the Crusaders, averaging a double-double with 11.5 rebounds per game and 15.3 points per game. He is also shooting 53.7 percent, just behind teammate Shawn Huff, who is knocking down 55.6 percent of his shots and averaging 14.3 points per game. As a team, Valparaiso is shooting 46.9 percent.

MU leads the all-time series with Valpo, 20-5, and has won 10 of the last 11 contests, including a 69-54 defeat of Valparaiso last season at the Bradley Center. James and McNeal each scored 12 points for the Golden Eagles, who outscored the Crusaders 28-0 off the bench.

Marquette is 6-2 all-time on the road against Valparaiso.

Tonight's contest can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1510/1290 AM, and on the internet by clicking here.