#MUBB Holds off NDSU, 82-68

MILWAUKEE — Markus Howard scored a game-high 32 points as the Marquette University men's basketball team held off a spirited effort from the North Dakota State Bison on Friday night, taking home an 82-68 victory at Fiserv Forum.

Howard added four boards and four assists to his 32 points while Sacar Anim (14 points) and Koby McEwen (12 points) joined him in double figures. McEwen also posted team-high highs in rebounds and assists with seven apiece.

The Golden Eagles (9-2) led by as many as nine points in the first half before the Bison closed out the first 20 minutes with a 17-10 run to trail by just two points at the break.

McEwen and Howard led a 9-0 run in the middle of the second half, turning a three-point lead into 12 with 4:16 to play. The Bison (8-5) would get no closer than nine points the rest of the way as MU held them to just eight points in the final 8:26 of the game.

Howard scored 18 of his 32 points in the second half on the way to his fourth 30-plus point effort of the season. Howard and his brother, Jordan (Central Arkansas, 2015-18), are now the all-time brother leading scorers in NCAA history (4,738 points), passing Steph and Seth Curry (4,736 points), when Markus hit a runner with 1:16 remaining in regulation.

MU held NDSU to 38.8 percent (26/67) shooting on the night, marking the sixth time this year its held an opponent under 40 percent shooting from the field (6-0 in those games). The Golden Eagles won the battle on the boards, 45-35, and forced 10 turnovers.

Tyson Ward led the Bison with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Rocky Kreuser scored 11 points and Vinnie Shahid chipped in nine.

BIG PICTURE
MU heads into its non-conference finale against Central Arkansas with a 9-2 record. The Golden Eagles tip-off BIG EAST play on New Year's Day at Creighton on Jan. 1 before hosting Villanova on Jan. 4.

UP NEXT
North Dakota State: Travels to Denver for a game on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m. CT.

Marquette: Hosts Central Arkansas on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. to close out non-conference play.