Marquette tops Maryland Eastern Shore, 86-60

Marquette defeats UMES behind Lazar Haywards' career-high 28 points.

MILWAUKEE- After a slow first half, the Marquette Golden Eagles (2-0) used a strong second half to their advantage to finish off the Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore (0-2), 86-60.

After only leading by seven at half, Marquette turned up the heat by getting paint touches after intermission. Thirty of MU’s 46 points in the paint came in the second half. The Golden Eagles shot 56 percent from the field in the second half, finishing the game at 52 percent overall.

“We were better in the second half than we were in the first half,” MU head coach Buzz Williams said. “The things we wanted to do, we did more efficiently [in the second half].”

Senior forward Lazar Hayward led the way for the Golden Eagles, scoring a career-high 28 points on 12-20 shooting while also grabbing eight rebounds. Hayward’s performance moved him past Jim McIlvaine into 26th place on MU’s all-time scoring list. Hayward now trails Marquette legend Dwyane Wade by one point.

“I’m happy for him [for the career high] but he hasn’t played well,” Williams said. “We don’t need him to score like that, but he has to play like that.”

The Golden Eagles also featured three other players scoring in double digits. Junior forward Jimmy Butler, senior guard David Cubillan, and junior guard Dwight Buycks scored 13, 12, and 12 points, respectively. Butler also was able to grab seven boards while Cubillan dished out six assists.

Marquette used the three-ball to its advantage against UMES’s 2-3 zone. After only converting on three three-point attempts on Friday, the Golden Eagles 10 of 26 from distance against the Hawks. Six Marquette players hit a three-pointer, including Butler who was 3-3; the first three-pointers of his MU career.

Junior forward Joe Fulce got the nod for the start on Tuesday night, but only logged six minutes in the contest. Fulce banged his knee during Friday night’s game against Centenary.

“Fulce didn’t play as many minutes as we need him to,” Williams said. “He’s getting his [right] knee drained after he fell on Friday.”

Sophomore guard Hillary Haley, who scored 22 points on 8-16 shooting, led the Hawks. The only other Hawk in double digits was freshman guard Mark Robertson who added all 15 of his points from beyond the arc.

Marquette will return to action at the Bradley Center on Saturday night against Grambling. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 P.M.

Game Notes: UMES never had a lead in the contest…Cubillan tied a career-high with six assists…Sophomore center Chris Otule had a career high six points…Freshman center Youssoupha Mbao will make his debut in Saturday night’s game against Grambling.