ESPN Recap...

[LastWarrior]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=263140269

Marquette 76, Hillsdale 66

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Jerel McNeal had 19 points and seven rebounds to lead No. 16 Marquette to a 76-66 season-opening victory over Hillsdale College on Friday night.

Dominic James added 13 points and four assists and Jamil Lott had 11 points for Marquette against Division II Hillsdale (0-2) in the first meeting between the two.

Marquette, picked to finish fourth in the Big East in a preseason poll of coaches, pulled away from a scrappy Hillsdale team with a 12-2 run started by Dan Fitzgerald's 3-pointer and finished by Jamil Lott's four points that gave the Golden Eagles a 72-60 lead with 1:08 left to play.

Hillsdale never got the lead below eight the rest of the way.

Tim Homan scored 18 points had eight rebounds and Tony Gugino added 12 points for Hillsdale, which played its second Division I opponent of the season. It lost 83-67 Sunday at Akron.

James scored four points during a 6-0 run that helped Marquette retake the lead at 38-36 early in the second half, but Gugino hit a 3-pointer and Travis Worst made a free throw that gave Hillsdale a 40-38 lead with 16:25 left.

Marquette answered as freshman guard David Cubillan capped a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer that gave the Golden Eagles a 45-40 lead with 14:02 left.

Hillsdale countered Marquette's size advantage and three-guard lineup by substituting freely and constantly pressuring the ball. Marquette also went to the bench often, but never let the lead slip below seven points until late in the first half.

[tweakers_suck]

That recap doesn't reveal how close the game really was tonight.

[LastWarrior]

Updated recap... (not as favorable for MU)

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=263140269

Marquette battles, subdues Division II Hillsdale in opener

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Marquette learned rank carries no privileges as it struggled Friday in its season-opener.

Jerel McNeal had 19 points and seven rebounds as Marquette (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 16 AP) defeated Hillsdale College 76-66 on Friday.

"One game into the regular season, and we've already been taught how we have to play," Marquette coach Tom Crean said.

Dominic James added 13 points and four assists, and Jamil Lott had 11 points for the Golden Eagles.

Missed free throws, poor shooting and absent defense allowed Division II Hillsdale (0-2) to take a 36-32 lead at the half.

Marquette, picked to finish fourth in the Big East in a preseason poll of coaches, finally pulled away with a 12-2 run started by Dan Fitzgerald's 3-pointer and finished by Jamil Lott's four points, giving the Golden Eagles a 72-60 lead with 1:08 left to play.

Hillsdale never got the lead below eight the rest of the way.

"We've got a ton of things we got to get better at offensively," Crean said. "Obviously, we've got to get better shooting free throws. But look at the second half, our energy goes way up. Our ability to talk to each other, play harder goes way up. Our free throw percentage goes way up."

Marquette made 14-of-17 free throws in the second half after going 6-of-14 before the break. Shooting, however, was a struggle all night -- 27-of-65.

"There's going to be nights when the offense isn't there," Crean said. "Tonight was one of them."

With 2:19 left in the first half, Tim Homan worked his way free and hit a 3-pointer from deep in the corner to give Hillsdale its first lead at 31-29 with 2:19 left. James made a free throw for Marquette, but Gugino answered with a jumper to keep Hillsdale ahead by three. After Dwight Burke jammed home a missed shot to pull Marquette to 33-32, Homan hit another 3-pointer, making it 36-32 at the half.

Hillsdale countered the Golden Eagles' size advantage and three-guard lineup by substituting freely and constantly pressuring the ball.

"We were letting their offense drain our energy," McNeal said.

"They did guard us well," Crean said. "They made us take a lot of challenge shots. They did some good things to us."

Homan scored 18 points and had eight rebounds, and Gugino added 12 points for Hillsdale, which played its second Division I opponent of the season. It lost 83-67 Sunday at Akron.

[Tampa Warrior]

Opening sentence reflects a message I am sure that TC is reinforcing w/ the team.