(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) MILWAUKEE – Stevie Mitchell had 17 points and the No. 15 Marquette University men’s basketball team held off Central Michigan, 70-62, on Monday evening at Fiserv Forum in the finale of the Marquette Challenge.
The Golden Eagles (3-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) used a 21-0 run midway through the first half and held off the Chippewas (1-2, 0-0 MAC), who pulled to within five in the second half.
Golden Eagles coach Shaka Smart said that it’s good for the team to have to deal with some adversity.
Smart added that his 15th-ranked Golden Eagles have things to improve upon.
MU forced CMU into 26 turnovers, resulting in 33 points, and held a 31-8 advantage in fast break points for the night. Guards Kam Jones and Chase Ross each had 12 points for the Golden Eagles, and pitched in eight and four assists, respectively.
Ross went 3-for-3 from the 3-point line to start the second half as Jones fought foul trouble and scored just two points over the final 20 minutes of play.
Junior guard Kyler Vanderjagt led the Chippewas with 19 points and junior forward Ugnius Jaresevicius notched a career-high 13 rebounds.
Marquette’s Stevie Mitchell said that the team has to be better when they face Maryland this Friday.
NOTABLES
- The victory is the 350th career head coaching win for Shaka Smart. Smart is 78-30 in his MU career.
- The Golden Eagles began the game 0-of-5 from 3-point range before freshman forward Royce Parham knocked down his first career 3-pointer at the 10:32 mark of the first half.
- Parham’s triple launched MU on a 21-0 run over 4:00 of elapsed game time to take a 36-15 lead.
- MU hit its next five 3-pointers after beginning the game 0-of-5 from deep.
- Parham set a new career high in points with nine in the contest
- Marquette moves to 3-0 all-time against Central Michigan.
- The Golden Eagles notched a record 66 deflections in the contest, beating the previous Smart-era high of 56.
- Central Michigan’s 26 turnovers are the most turnovers for a MU opponent since Illinois surrendered 26 on Nov. 15, 2021.
NEXT UP: Marquette heads on its first road-trip of the season to take on Maryland on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Central time.
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