In its previous two games before a 73-64 victory over Seton Hall Saturday night, Marquette shot a combined 5-of-26 (19.2 percent) from the three-point line. When a team hits that kind of cold streak from deep, it’s time to work for better shots. That’s exactly what Marquette did against the Pirates.

Marquette (16-11, 7-7 Big East) scored 60.3 percent (44-of-73) of its points in the paint, something that junior forward Jae Crowder said coach Buzz Williams emphasizes every game. It just may not always work that way.

“He wants the ball in the paint just to create for others,” Crowder said. “Whether it be a dump-down to a big or a kick-out to a guard, he just wants the ball to get into the paint, and we feel we’re at our best when the ball touches the paint at least once each possession.”

Williams said paint touches are what open up the offense for everyone.

“Typically speaking, assisted baskets come from paint touches, paint touches typically lead to fouls and fouls will eventually lead to free throw makes,” Williams said. “All of those things are really important.”

Sophomore center Chris Otule got his share of paint touches throughout the first half. He had eight of Marquette’s first 14 points of the game and finished the game with 10, all in the paint, and eight rebounds.

He shot 5-of-5 from the field and went 0-of-5 from the free throw line. Otule entered the game averaging 4.9 points and three rebounds per game. This was his first career Big East game in double figures for points.

Crowder said the team wasn’t surprised with Otule’s performance.

“We have seen it. That’s why it’s not as shocking to us as it is to you guys,” Crowder said. “We saw it before in practice, and we’re just trying to get him to translate that into the games.”

Williams said Saturday’s performance was “by far the most dominating performance he has had in a game, much less in a half.”

“I just think he’s just getting better. He’s trying to figure it out,” Williams said. “He wants to be a really good player, and he’s never been a really good player.

“Is he an all-league guy as a sophomore? No. Is he ever an all-league guy? I don’t know. But I never thought that he would be a guy that could go 0-of-5 from the free throw line and have seven rebounds and 10 points in however many minutes he played in the first half.”

Otule said extra effort off the court is what has made him better.

“A lot of it has to do with working off the court with (strength and conditioning coach) Todd Smith and spending time in the training room with (athletic trainer) Ernest (Eugene).”

Otule said Williams and he had words for each other before the game because Otule put his hands on his knees, which is something Williams doesn’t like.

“It sparked something in me. It shouldn’t have to come to that … but I was excited,” Otule said.