MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University men’s basketball team (2-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) defeated Rider on Friday night, 95-65, to close out its season-opening two-game homestand at Fiserv Forum.The Golden Eagles led wire-to-wire and had four players score in double figures, led by Kam Jones who had 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting, three shy of his career-high. MU shot 54.8 percent from the floor and knocked down 13 three-pointers.Rider (1-1) was led by Mervin James who had 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting. T.J. Weeks Jr. had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.NOTABLES
- Marquette has been chosen to finish first in the 2023-24 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
- The Golden Eagles are a consensus preseason top-10 selection, including No. 5 in the Associated Press poll.
- Marquette’s roster features four players named to preseason watch lists dedicated to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame postseason awards honoring the top player at each position.
- The Golden Eagles are now 1-0 all-time against Rider.
- Marquette shot 58.3% (7-of-12) from three-point range in the first half for the second game in a row.
- Kam Jones finished with a game-high 23 points, his 10th career 20-point game and second this season.
- Kam Jones tied his career-best with six rebounds.
- Oso Ighodaro had his sixth career double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds).
- Sean Jones dished out career-highs in assists (6) and rebounds (4).
- Marquette had a 19-4 run in the first half that started at 9:53 and ended at the 5:23 mark. David Joplin had six while Kam Jones and Sean Jones had four apiece during the stretch.
- Kam Jones (11 points) and David Joplin (10 points) both scored in double figures in the first half.
- Marquette scored the first seven points of the game and Stevie Mitchell had six of the team’s first 12.
UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles hit the road for a nationally ranked matchup at No. 25 Illinois on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Tipoff in Champaign is at 7 p.m. CT
