Marquette stuns No. 15 'Nova as Big East starts
McNeal scores 24 points, including key three-pointer late in second half
 | Marquette's Jerel McNeal reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half. |
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MILWAUKEE - Jerel McNeal scored 24 points and Marquette opened Big East play with an upset, beating No. 15 Villanova 79-72 Thursday.
McNeal's 3-pointer with 3:55 remaining capped a 7-0 run by Marquette (12-2), giving the Golden Eagles an eight-point lead that Villanova couldn't chip away in the closing minutes.
Wesley Matthews added 19, including 16 in the second half.
Corey Fisher scored 21 for the Wildcats (12-2, 0-1), who held each of their first 13 opponents to 68 points or less. Dante Cunningham added 16 points and eight rebounds.
With Marquette leading by 1 point and 5:39 left, the Golden Eagles took control via a 7-0 run that began with a long jumper by Matthews to put Marquette ahead 61-58. Cunningham then was called for traveling under the basket, handing the ball back to the Golden Eagles.
Matthews then drained a long turnaround jumper, pumping his fist as he extended the lead to 63-58. Marquette's Dominic James then drew a charge on Fisher.
McNeal hit a 3-pointer, putting Marquette up 66-58 with 3:55 left and forcing Villanova coach Jay Wright to call a timeout.
Villanova later had the ball and was trailing by 7 with just under two minutes left when Marquette's Lazar Hayward grabbed a loose ball in traffic and Matthews hit two free throws on the other end.
James scored 17 for Marquette and Hayward added 15, giving the Golden Eagles four double-digit scorers against one of the Big East's best defensive teams.
Coming into Thursday's game, Villanova was allowing 57.6 points per game and holding opponents to 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Marquette shot 46 percent on Thursday, including 41.7 percent from 3-point range.
Hayward has scored 14 points or more in Marquette's last six games.
Leading by four at halftime, Marquette went on a 7-0 run early in the second half to take a 43-34 lead with 15:41 left. As Marquette's lead grew, Wright began getting visibly upset with some of the foul calls that went against his team — and had a long huddle with a referee during a timeout.
Villanova's fortunes seemed to turn around right away, as the Wildcats responded with a 13-3 run. They reclaimed the lead when Cunningham came up with a steal and Scottie Reynolds hit a fast-break layup in traffic to put Villanova ahead 47-46.
Villanova struggled from outside, hitting only 6 of 20 from 3-point range.
It was the second straight big game for Fisher, who tied his career high of 23 points in Villanova's win over Temple on Monday. Fisher had scored only 25 in his previous four games.
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