It was another slow start for the Marquette men’s basketball team, but the Golden Eagles, led by senior Lazar Hayward, defeated Maryland Eastern Shore Tuesday night, 86-60.

The Hawks were able to keep things close until the 7:28 mark when Marquette rolled out a quick 9-0 run to put the score at 32-20. Maryland Eastern Shore was able to pull back with seven after a buzzer-beating 3-pointer going into the intermission.

But behind Hayward, Marquette gradually pushed that lead to as much as 28 points near game close.

After turning in a disappointing show in Marquette’s season opener Friday (nine points in 18 minutes), Hayward tied his career scoring high against Maryland Eastern Shore with 28 points, shooting 12-of-20 from the field.

Foul trouble had kept the star off the floor against Centenary, as well as in the team’s exhibition game against MSOE.

“I can’t make plays like I made that first game, and I know that,” Hayward said. “I just have to go out there and play basketball. I think I was looking of guys when I wasn’t supposed to, or going too hard to the rim — just little stuff like that.”

Hayward finished with three fouls in 30 minutes, but this time it was Jimmy Butler’s turn to ride the pine because of fouls. As a result, sophomore Chris Otule saw 11 minutes after playing just six against Centenary. Coach Buzz Williams said he wouldn’t expect the young center to play much more than that, but Otule believes the minutes will come if he executes when necessary.

“If I just keep staying active down low then I think I’ll find some playing time,” Otule said.

The Golden Eagles’ attack was rounded out by Dwight Buycks. After the defeat of Centenary, Williams said he knew Buycks was a better player than he had shown. The junior guard started his second-straight game for Marquette and finished with 12 points and three assists.

“I thought he was much more aggressive offensively,” Williams said. “I thought he did a better job defensively. I thought that he made shots at a higher percentage rate than he did Friday night (against Centenary), because he was taking shots within his rhythm and within what it is that he wants to do.”

Marquette’s next game is against Grambling State Saturday at the Bradley Center, with tipoff slated for 7:30 p.m.