Rowsey scores 23, Marquette beats Mount Saint Mary's 80-59

MILWAUKEE — Andrew Rowsey scored 23 points and Matt Heldt had 11 of his 13 points in the first half to help Marquette pull away early for an 80-59 win over Mount Saint Mary's on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Haanif Cheatham also had 13 points and Markus Howard scored 11 for Marquette. Rowsey hit three 3-pointers and added five assists and three steals.

Heldt converted a 3-point play, Rowsey hit a 3-pointer and Cheatham made a layup to make it 8-0 and Marquette never trailed. Greg Elliott's steal and layup gave the Golden Eagles a 10-point lead fewer than six minutes in and Heldt's tip-in, off a missed 3 by Rowsey, made it 48-27 at halftime.

Sacar Anim's jumper capped a 12-2 run to open the second half to push Marquette's lead to 31 points with 15 minutes to go. Howard hit a 3 to make it 74-37 midway through the second half.

Junior Robinson had 20 points and six assists for Mt. Saint Mary's.