Men's Basketball Continues Homestand Against Oakland
12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2006
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
MILWAUKEE, WIS. - The No. 20/22 Marquette men's basketball team will host Oakland, Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Bradley Center, in its sixth of eight-straight home contests.
The Golden Eagles (10-2) are coming off a 68-46 victory over Md.-Baltimore County, Saturday, a game in which sophomores Dominic James (17) and Jerel McNeal (15), and freshman Lazar Hayward (13) all registered double digits in points. MU committed just 12 turnovers in the win, its second lowest total of the season (nine vs. Duke), while forcing 22 on UMBC.
James leads the team and ranks fourth in the BIG EAST with 17.2 points per game, three clicks ahead of McNeal's 14.2. James has scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games this season, and McNeal in nine.
Defensively, McNeal continues to rank among the nations best in steals per game. His average of 3.3 steals per game is fifth in Division I, and his total of 40 is tied for second.
Tuesday's contest will be the final game of a five-game road trip for Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies are 1-3 on the trip, including a 74-53 loss to No. 1/1 UCLA on Saturday, and are 3-7 away from home this season.
Vova Severovas leads Oakland with 12.7 points per game, just ahead of Shawn Hopes with 12.2 points per game. Derick Nelson is tough on the glass, leading the squad with 5.5 rebounds per game.
The meeting between the Golden Eagles and Golden Grizzlies will be the third all time. MU has won each of the previous meetings by 21 and eight points. In last seasons meeting, Marquette knocked off Oakland, 90-69, behind 21 points by sophomore Wesley Matthews. McNeal (18), James (17) and senior Steve Novak (10) also tallied double digits.
Marquette will finish the homestand with contests against Morgan State, Dec. 22, and Savannah State, Dec. 30, before opening up BIG EAST competition at Providence, Jan. 4.
