McNeal too much for DePaul, taking the Blue Demons 79-70

MILWAUKEE - Jerel McNeal got a colorful compliment from DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright in a season that's shaping up for many more accolades for No. 11 Marquette.

McNeal had 21 points and 6 rebounds, and Lazar Hayward added 16 points and 17 rebounds in a 79-70 victory over the Blue Demons on Saturday that kept the Golden Eagles undefeated in the Big East.

"(McNeal) is like the in-law that comes over to your house," Wainwright said. "He has a suitcase and he's not leaving. I love the kid. He's a testament to what college basketball is all about. I wouldn't want him guarding me."

McNeal's defense has been one of the biggest reasons Marquette (17-2, 6-0) is off to its best start ever in conference play, topping a 5-0 mark 16 years ago when the Golden Eagles were known as the Warriors and played in the Great Midwest.

"I think a lot of guys get caught up with putting the ball in the hole a lot. A lot of people can do it, some do it better than others," McNeal said. "But there's not a lot of people who can stop a guy from putting the ball in the hole."

McNeal can score, too, but Marquette needed to rely on its vaunted pressure defense and Hayward's rebounding to improve to 13-0 at the Bradley Center this season.

Marquette, which also got 20 points from Wesley Matthews and 10 from Dwight Burke, went cold to start the second half, missing 9 of its first 10 shots and failing to score for one 41/2-minute stretch.

The Golden Eagles shot just 32 percent in the second half, but Marquette's defense kept DePaul (8-12, 0-7) at bay. Trailing by as many as 15, DePaul got as close as 55-48 on a free throw by Dar Tucker (18 points).

Will Walker had 17 points and Mac Koshwal 14 for the Blue Demons, but Marquette, led by senior guards Matthews, McNeal and Dominic James, didn't let them get any closer.