Matthews, Marquette thrash Northern Iowa

Nov 29, 2008 - 6:28 AM HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (Ticker) -- Marquette has shown it can put up points in a hurry under new coach Buzz Williams. On Friday, it showed it has the ability to play defense as well.

Wesley Matthews scored 17 points and Lazar Hayward had 15 and eight rebounds as 15th-ranked Marquette cruised past Northern Iowa, 73-43, in the Chicago Invitational.

Jerel McNeal added 13 points for the Golden Eagles (5-0), who had their lowest point total of the season - but allowed their fewest points as well. Marquette's previous fewest allowed was 64.

"I think we grew up and matured from a defensive standpoint tonight," Williams said. "Seven baskets in the first half was our lowest number, from a defensive standpoint, I thought we played our most consecutive perfect possessions."

Marquette never trailed and Hayward's 3-pointer gave the Golden Eagles a 10-2 lead just over four minutes into the contest.

Matthews made one 3-pointer and Dominic James made consecutive shots from the arc during a 20-0 burst as Marquette pushed its advantage up to 32-8 with 5:31 left in the half.

The Panthers continued to struggle with the Golden Eagles' speed in the second half as Marquette extended its lead to 48-23 with 16:43 remaining and was never threatened.

Marquette made 11-of-27 from the arc and shot 45 percent (24-of-53) from the field.

The Golden Eagles also held a 42-29 advantage in rebounding.

"(Northern Iowa) shot a lot of (3-pointers), which usually generates long rebounds and that helps us," Williams said. "I think we're doing a better job of gang rebounding."

Kwadzo Ahelegbe had 11 points and five assists to lead the Panthers (3-2), who shot 35 percent (18-of-51) from the field, including 3-of-21 from the arc.