Hayward scores 19, grabs 14 rebounds, Marquette beats DePaul 80-69

Hayward leads Marquette past DePaul 80-69

MILWAUKEE — Lazar Hayward had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Marquette avenged an earlier loss to DePaul with a 80-69 victory over the Blue Demons on Wednesday night to extend its winning streak to three.

Darius Johnson-Odom added 21 points and Jimmy Butler 18 for the Golden Eagles (14-8, 5-5 Big East), who didn’t trail Jan. 20 until Mike Stovall’s jumper with seven-tenths of a second to play snapped DePaul’s 24-game conference losing streak.

In the rematch, Marquette never trailed, building a double-digit first-half lead and using a 12-0 run early in the second half to open a big advantage.

DePaul (8-14, 1-9) is still searching for its second win under interim coach Tracy Webster, who fell to 1-7 since replacing Jerry Wainwright.

Mac Koshwal led DePaul with 18 points, but the Blue Demons shot 38 percent from the field. Will Walker, who had been averaging 16.3 points, scored 13 on 5-of-20 shooting.

Marquette’s 12-0 run in the second half gave the Golden Eagles a 47-23 lead. In the spurt, Marquette did it inside and out — using an extra pass to find Hayward open for a 3-pointer and then getting a driving basket by Johnson-Odom.

Moments later, Johnson-Odom stepped into the passing lane moments later for a steal and two-handed dunk. Hayward followed with another 3, admiring his follow-through on his basket that just beat the shot clock.

The closest DePaul could come was within 73-64 with 1:08 remaining, but Marquette finished by hitting 13 of its final 14 free throws to seal it.

Hayward, who had the biggest double-double of his career since putting up 19 points and 18 rebounds against IPFW last season, took over midway through the first half.

The senior forward scored 12 of Marquette’s final 17 points before the break as the Golden Eagles took a 32-19 halftime lead.

Coupled with wins against Rutgers and at No. 19 Connecticut, Marquette is back to .500 in the Big East, with games at Providence and against South Florida next before a Feb. 18 matchup with No. 22 Pittsburgh.

DePaul, which last won in Milwaukee 10 years ago, has lost four straight and 37 of its last 40 in Big East play.