Late 24-0 run saves MU, 72-61 win vs Bucknell

Freshman Davante Gardner provides huge spark for Marquette off the bench in come-from-behind win.

MILWAUKEE- Marquette survived the initial round of the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, capitalizing on a 24-0 second half run to down the Bucknell Bison 72-61.

Marquette trailed Bucknell for most of the game before taking the lead for good on a Davante Gardner layup with 5:53 remaining. The basket was part of a run in which MU scored 24 unanswered points from the 10:22 mark in the second half until a G.W. Boon free-throw with 1:41 left in the game.

Senior guard Dwight Buycks led Marquette’s scoring attack, dropping 17 points off the bench while shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 6-for-6 from the foul line.

“He’s a senior. He wants to be that guy we depend on for a three ball if we need it,” Jae Crowder said. “His leadership has stepped up.”

Freshman Davante Gardner posted another impressive performance, contributing 11 points and 7 rebounds in only 12 minutes of action.

[“I’m encouraged by him, our guys love him,” Coach Buzz Williams said of Gardner. “And then when they figured out he could score, it changes the dimension of our team.”

Jimmy Butler and Crowder were also in double figures, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively. Crowder pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Bisons started the game on-fire offensively, hitting 7-of-10- from the three-point line and 15-of-22 from the field in the first half. Bucknell’s Bryson Johnson led all scorers with 18 points, shooting 6-of-8 from three-point range. Joe Willman and Boon each had 11 points.

MU’s athleticism on defense and full-court press forced 18 Bucknell turnovers that led to 24 points for the Golden Eagles. Seven Marquette defenders recorded at least one steal. Bucknell struggled mightily in the second half, shooting only 8-of-29 from the field and 2-of-7 from the charity stripe.

Marquette will host Green Bay Tuesday night at the Bradley Center as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Classic continues.