11Marquette 56 - 57 South Florida
Final
  for this game

Marquette hopes to extend perfect Big East start vs. South Florida

Feb 6, 2009 - 11:18 AM No. 8 Marquette (20-2) at South Florida (7-14) 7:00 p.m. EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- The only thing more surprising than someone still being unbeaten in the rugged Big East Conference might be the team that remains perfect.

Led by a trio of senior guards, eighth-ranked Marquette goes for its 13th straight win when it visits South Florida on Friday.

The Golden Eagles (20-2, 9-0 Big East) were selected sixth in the preseason coaches' poll, but the experienced backcourt of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews has catapulted them to the top of the conference standings.

McNeal, who is averaging a team-high 20.0 points per contest, scored 26 in a 76-61 victory over DePaul on Tuesday.

Matthews contributes 19.2 points per game and James adds 11.7 and a team-high 5.3 assists while junior Lazar Hayward patrols the paint for Marquette, averaging 16.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for a team that averages 81.3 points per game, most in the Big East.

South Florida (7-14, 2-7) last lost three straight, including a season-worst offensive effort in a 65-48 setback at St. John's on Sunday.

Dominique Jones led the way with 16 points for the Bulls, who had their lowest scoring output of the season against the Red Storm.






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