Slow second half hampers Marquette in 70-62 loss to Oklahoma State
MILWAUKEE — Rondell Walker scored 16 points, Cade Cunningham had 15 points and six rebounds, and Oklahoma State used a strong second half to beat Marquette 70-62 on Tuesday night.
The freshmen duo of Walker and Cunningham connected on a game-changing sequence late in the second half. A Cunningham steal led to Walker’s fast-break layup with 4:16 remaining, and a flagrant-1 foul was called on a trailing Jamal Cain. Walker made the free throws for a four-point possession and a 61-49 lead.
More Marquette coverage
Marquette had just 16 points through the first 16 minutes of the second half. The Golden Eagles’ fifth basket after halftime came with one minute to go, getting within 63-56. But Walker and Cunningham combined to make four straight free throws in the final 25 seconds to seal it.
Bryce Williams added 13 points for Oklahoma State (3-0). Cunningham, the lone freshman selected to the Associated Press preseason All-America team, was 6 of 11 from the field with three steals.
Koby McEwen led Marquette (2-1) with 21 points and Cain had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Dawson Garcia, a 6-foot-11 freshman who entered averaging 17.5 points after two games, scored just four points on 2-of-9 shooting.
Oklahoma State returns home to play Oakland on Saturday, while Marquette is scheduled to host No. 4 Wisconsin on Friday.
