Marquette eventually allowed Rutgers back into the mix as the Scarlet Knights closed the gap to four just after the 8:00 minute media timeout, but it was apparent the Golden Eagles heard Buzz Williams loud and clear in that huddle and they closed out the half on a 13-6 run. Darius Johnson Odom had 19 points heading into the locker room.
In the second half it was all Marquette, led by senior Big East Player of the year candidates Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson Odom. Crowder finished the game with 27 points and Johnson Odom put up 21. The dynamic duo was on fire all night, and at times they looked like they could do whatever they wanted.
"Jae is playing at a very high clip," Williams said. "His efficiency numbers are staggering. He has higher efficiency numbers than any other player since I have been here."
Not only did the Golden Eagles applied intense pressure defense all night, they did it to perfection. Marquette forced 24 turnovers while only committing 10 fouls. Rutgers only went to the free throw line twice the entire game, going 3-3 from the line. "They are a very good team. There is a reason they are ranked #10 in the country. Jae Crowder and DJO are experienced seniors, and we are a very young team," said Rutgers coach Mike Rice.
Notes:
- Marquette is undefeated in all six games where Crowder & Johnson Odom have both scored over 20 points.
- Crowder is 87 points away from the 1,000 mark, if he gets 87 more he will be the 44th player in MU history to hit that number, something especially impressive being that he has only been at MU for 2 years.
- Jamil Wilson has recorded a blocked shot in 12 straight games.
- All nine players that suited up tonight scored in the game.
- Buzz' stat: Under Buzz, MU is 68-19 when winning the opening tip.
ESPN Highlights:
Box Score:
Rutgers Scarlet Knights |
||||||||||||
Players | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
Gilvydas Biruta | 21 | 6-9 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
Dane Miller | 27 | 5-12 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
Eli Carter | 31 | 4-10 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 11 |
Myles Mack | 25 | 4-10 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
Jerome Seagears | 23 | 5-7 | 3-3 | 1-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 14 |
Charlie Rigoglioso |
2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mike Kuhn | 2 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Austin Johnson | 12 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Mike Poole | 20 | 0-8 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Kadeem Jack | 8 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Malick Kone | 11 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Greg Lewis | 2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Derrick Randall | 16 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
TOTALS | 28-66 | 6-17 | 3-3 | 14 | 29 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 21 | 18 | 65 | |
42.4% | 35.3% | 100.0% | ||||||||||
Marquette Golden Eagles | ||||||||||||
Players | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
Jamil Wilson | 28 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
Jae Crowder | 36 | 11-14 | 2-5 | 3-5 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 27 |
Junior Cadougan | 28 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
Darius Johnson-Odom | 34 | 8-15 | 3-7 | 2-2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 |
Vander Blue | 30 | 2-10 | 0-3 | 6-8 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
Jamail Jones | 6 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Juan Anderson | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Todd Mayo | 17 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Derrick Wilson | 11 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
30-56 | 5-16 | 17-24 | 9 | 24 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 82 | ||
53.6% | 31.3% | 70.8% | ||||||||||
Technicals: None | ||||||||||||
Officials: Brian O'Connell, Tony Greene, Sean Corbin | ||||||||||||
Attendance: 14,807 |