GAME NOTES: The 15th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles and the Seton Hall Pirates will meet in Milwaukee tonight for a Big East Conference clash. Seton Hall has alternated wins and losses in each of the last nine outings, a true sign of inconsistency for a team that started the campaign 6-0. On Saturday, the Pirates posted an 89-81 decision over Morgan State, but the level of competition increases significantly tonight. Marquette is undoubtedly eager to get back to action after dropping a 79-64 decision to West Virginia on Sunday. The loss was just the second of the season for the 11-2 Golden Eagles, who carried a seven-game win streak into that contest. They are 8-0 at home thus far, an obvious reason for confidence heading into tonight's clash. Marquette owns a 2-1 series lead over Seton Hall, including an 89-76 decision over the Pirates last season.

The 10-4 Seton Hall Pirates are led by Brian Laing, who is scoring 19.6 ppg on 49.8 percent shooting from the floor. He is pulling down 7.6 rpg to go along with 23 steals. Eugene Harvey checks in with 16.6 ppg, and Jeremy Hazell adds 11.9 ppg. Jamar Nutter is only averaging 9.8 ppg, but he exploded for a career- high 29 points in the win over Morgan State last time out. Nutter connected on 10-of-15 field goal attempts off the bench, including a 4-of-6 effort from three-point range. Laing posted 20 points and eight rebounds in that tilt, and Hazell tallied 15 points. As for Harvey, he contributed 12 points and eight assists for the Pirates, who limited their overmatched opponents to 36.8 percent shooting from the field. Seton Hall is averaging 85.0 ppg this season, but the fact that the club is surrendering 80.6 ppg to opponents is a bit troubling.

Marquette is scoring 80.7 ppg this season on 49.3 percent shooting from the floor, and the club is limiting its opponents to 61.3 ppg on 39.9 percent shooting. The Golden Eagles have a balanced lineup that features four double- digit scorers, and Dominic James is tops with 14.9 ppg. Lazar Hayward checks in with 13.3 ppg, and Jerel McNeal is close behind with 13.2 ppg. Rounding out the foursome is Wesley Matthews with 10.6 ppg. In the disappointing loss to West Virginia on Sunday, all four of those players mentioned tallied at least 10 points. Unfortunately, a 22-12 deficit in points from the foul line and a 38-26 rebounding disadvantage did not help matters. Hayward and Matthews both had 13 points, while James and McNeal scored 10 points apiece.

It is hard to imagine Marquette losing a second straight game, especially considering that the Golden Eagles have the homecourt advantage this evening. Expect another balanced effort from the home team.