Hayward scores 24 as MU defeats MSOE, 106-47

November 8, 5:21 PMMarquette Golden Eagles ExaminerBrian Neuberger

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Nearly 14,000 were in attendance at the Bradley Center as MU unofficially kicked off its 2009-10 season against MSOE Saturday afternoon in the Golden Eagles’ lone exhibition game.

Storming out to a 23-2 lead, MU never looked back as they dominated the Raiders en route to a 106-47 victory.

Senior Lazar Hayward, a preseason All-Big East first team selection, led MU with 24 points on 8-10 shooting (including 4-5 from beyond the arc) in only 17 minutes of action.

While no one will confuse Luke Larsen or Austin Meier with the likes of Luke Harangody or Greg Monroe, Hayward came out aggressive and never let up despite playing against inferior competition—a great sign for MU heading into the regular season.

Another positive sign during MU’s dress rehearsal was the play of senior David Cubillan. The 6’0” guard started in the MU backcourt alongside senior Maurice Acker and finished with 12 points (5-7 from the field), nine assists, four rebounds, four assists and, most importantly, zero turnovers.

“I don’t think [David] is a point [guard], but I think he does exactly what I ask him to do,” said second-year MU head coach Buzz Williams, who played each of the 12 student-athletes on the MU roster Saturday, according to gomarquette.com. “Considering we don’t have any other choices other than Mo [Acker], he’s done an outstanding job.”

With the departures of Dominic James, Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal to graduation and injuries to freshman point guard Junior Cadougan (ruptured Achilles) and JUCO transfer Darius Johnson-Odom (who played 12 minutes against MSOE, but aggravated a left-foot injury), Cubillan—who averaged 1.6 points, 0.5 rebounds, .71 assists and 9.5 minutes per game in 2008-09—will have his number called early and often during the early stages of the regular season.

Two other positives came from the performance of 6’10”, 250-pound sophomore center Chris Otule, who scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds, and the re emergence of junior Joe Fulce, who is coming off of two knee surgeries over the past 12 months.

“I don’t think [Chris] is an all-conference player, but I think if you have five post guys on your team, he’s worthy of being in that five in the Big East,” said Williams of Otule, as reported by jsonline.com. “He’s turned into a guy that every day when he comes to the gym, he wants to get better. I think he has a bright future.”

The 6’7” Fulce, who joined Acker, Jimmy Butler, Cubillan and Hayward in the MU starting five, scored six points, gathered six rebounds and dished out five assists in 17 minutes of action.

While the offensive output for MU was certainly encouraging (as a team, the Golden Eagles shot nearly 60 percent), the defensive effort was equally positive.

In addition to the Raiders shooting an abysmal 31.9 percent from the floor (15-47), MU scored 46 points on 25 MSOE turnovers and allowed a mere 14 points in the paint.

“We want to play defense, that’s our priority,” said junior guard Dwight Buycks, who had 15 points and two steals on the night, according to gomarquette.com. “We’re quick and fast. That’s our main thing.”

MSOE opens its regular season Sunday, Nov. 15 against North Park, whereas MU hosts Centenary College on Friday in its opener.