After a 9-0 run to begin the game, the Golden Eagles' fast start was slowed significantly due to foul trouble and a lack of scoring presence from Jerel McNeal, Dominic James and Lazar Hayward.
Led by Wesley Matthews, who finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and three assists, Marquette was eventually able to put Chicago State away with a decisive 106-87 victory Monday night.
With forwards Chris Otule and Joseph Fulce sitting on the bench due to injuries, the Golden Eagles only suited up nine scholarship players, an issue magnified by first half foul trouble. Marquette finished the game with 27 fouls.
"We cannot stop the clock and give them free points," coach Buzz Williams said. "We can't foul 27 times no matter what the game is and no matter who the opponent is. We've got to get a lot better at it and we've got to get a lot better at it quick."
Center Dwight Burke committed two fouls in only five minutes of game time, leaving sophomore Patrick Hazel to pick up the slack at the five spot. In 22 minutes, Hazel scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and had two blocks.
Burke fouled out in Marquette's previous game Saturday night after scoring zero points and grabbing only two rebounds.
Burke "has got to play more minutes," Williams said. "Especially with (Otule) out."
But Burke wasn't the only Golden Eagle to limit himself from playing time due to foul trouble. Forward Lazar Hayward only played eight minutes in the first half after collecting two early fouls as well.
The first half was saved by Matthews who scored 17 points. McNeal, James and Hayward added just 12 points total in the first half, shooting only 3-for-10 collectively.
Throughout the game though, Matthews was not just aggressive on the offensive end. He collected two blocks and two steals and caused turnovers with his defensive hustle.
"Matthews' scoring is somewhat derived from what he's doing on the other end," Williams said. "That's why you see him fill up so many things in the box score."
In the previous game, Matthews was also the high point man, scoring a career high 27.
"My role as a leader on this team, as a playmaker on this team is to fill the stat sheet," Matthews said. "On any given night anybody can go off."
The second half was more typical of Golden Eagles basketball. Though the transition play was sloppy at times, Hayward and McNeal found ways to score. Hayward finished with 21 points, 19 of which were tallied after the halftime break. McNeal finished with 17 points.
Defensively the Golden Eagles caused 13 turnovers but were unable to stop Chicago State's David Holston who put 33 points on the board for the Cougars.
Holston, a 5-foot-8 inch guard, hit seven 3-point shots and went 11-of-22 from the field. Holston and guard John Cantrell, who scored 21 points, were the only two Chicago State players to score double digits.
"We have to play team defense a little better. We have to remember that the ball is what scores, we lose track of that sometimes and that is where some of those baskets come from," Hayward said.
Williams said Marquette can't afford to let its opponents score so easily, especially in the second half, like the Cougars did Monday night.
"I'm not trying to be a prophet or foresee the future, but we can't allow a team to score 51 points (in the second half) in our building," Williams said. "Those things do not trend towards having successful games."