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Golden Eagles hope to soar past Pirates in Big East Tourney

Wed 12th, March 2008

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The 25th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles and the Seton Hall Pirates will clash in the final game of the opening round of the Big East Tournament, as they meet at Madison Square Garden tonight. The program that wins this game will move on to face third-seeded Notre Dame in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.

The Pirates were downed in their final three games of the regular season and because of that they earned just the 11th seed in this event with a 7-11 finish within the league. SHU owns a 19-25 all-time record in the Big Tournament, including two titles (1991 and 1993), but it has lost in the opening round in its last three appearances.

As for Marquette, it was defeated in its last two conference games of the regular season, but the program was still able to grab the sixth seed with a solid 11-7 league record. This is just the Eagles' third appearance ever in the Big East Tournament, where they have gone 1-2 all-time.

Marquette holds a 4-1 edge in the all-time series with SHU and it has won the last four meetings, including two during this past regular season.

The Pirates rank fourth in the Big East in scoring with an average of 77.4 ppg, but they are last in scoring defense, giving up 77.6 ppg. SHU's potent attack is led by Brian Laing, who was recently honored with a spot on the All- Big East First-Team. The versatile Laing is one of the top scorers in the conference at 19.0 ppg and he ranks second on the Pirates in both rebounding (7.0 rpg) and steals (50). Eugene Harvey has been in charge of setting up Laing, dishing out a team-high 4.8 apg, and he also chips in with 13.3 ppg. Considered the squad's top defender, Harvey leads the team in steals, with 60. Jeremy Hazell contributes 12.9 ppg for SHU, while Jamar Nutter adds 10.9 ppg on the strength of 38.8 percent shooting from long distance.

The Eagles have used their quickness and athleticism to lead the conference in steals (9.8 spg) and that in turn has helped them to force opposing teams into 17.4 turnovers per game. Offensively, Marquette is netting a solid 76.2 ppg behind four double-digit scorers. Jerel McNeal is one of three Eagle players to earn second-team all-league accolades and he leads the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and steals (68). The versatile McNeal is also dishing out 3.8 apg and grabbing 4.7 rpg. Dominic James was an all-league performer during the regular season and he is handing out a team-high 4.3 apg, while ranking second with 13.3 ppg and 53 steals. Lazar Hayward joined McNeal and James as an all- conference choice and he turns in 12.9 ppg and a team-high 6.4 rpg. Wesley Matthews is another player not to be forgotten about, as he contributes 11.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg to this attack.

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