MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Jacksonville University men's basketball team (4-6) visited Marquette (6-2) on Saturday night and put a pair of players in double figures against a game defense that held the visiting side to just 29 percent shooting in a loss, 75-56.
Jacksonville held the Golden Eagles in check for much of the first ten minutes of this one, but some costly turnovers allowed the home side to build a lead. As things began to separate, Marquette was heating up from the floor and wound up shooting 48.6 percent in the first half with seven triples to its credit.
"I don't think we played with great toughness or urgency and that manifested itself in 15 turnovers and missed free throws," head coach
Tony Jasick said. "In this environment, you've got to come in and play with a chip on your shoulder, you've got to play with an energy and a toughness about you and tonight we didn't. It's unfortunate because I thought we had a chance to come in and compete against a team that is going to have a good year."
Destin Barnes paced the scoring effort for Jacksonville in this one. He scored 12 points and pulled down two rebounds while
Bryce Workman came off the bench to return to double figures for the first time since the first two games of the season. He posted 10 points with four rebounds and went 6-8 from the free throw line after drawing five fouls.
David Bell's streak of double-doubles comes to a close with a six-point, six-rebound effort while both
Mo Arnold and
Diante Wood each added seven.
Derrick Flowers popped off the bench to can a pair of triples.
Kevin Norman and DeAntony McCallum rounded out the scoring with four apiece with six and four rebounds, respectively.
The second half was a balanced effort. The Dolphins bounced back to shoot 40.7 percent from the floor and the defensive turned things around to hold Marquette is check, generally but the lead proved ultimately too large. Jacksonville won the second however, 33-29.
With this lengthy road trip behind them the Dolphins will look forward to a return to Historic Swisher Gymnasium on Saturday night where they'll welcome longtime in-state rival Bethune-Cookman. It'll be the first of consecutive home games for Jacksonville, each a full week apart.
"Yeah we have a big couple of weeks ahead of us," Coach Jasick concluded. "It all starts with Saturday evening."
Hodges Mazda Player of the Game:
Bryce Workman (10 pts, 4 reb, 1 ast)
