Grambling State @ Marquette preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 2, 2015 ) Grambling State 49, Marquette 95

Marquette has had plenty of time to enjoy a satisfying road win and it now sets its sights on three straight non-conference games at home, beginning with a visit from Grambling State on Tuesday. Star guard Markus Howard (concussion) was cleared to return to action hours before the Golden Eagles picked up a 73-65 victory at Kansas State on Dec. 7.

"This was as tough as we've played up to this point of the season," Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski told reporters after his team held the host Wildcats to 32.3 percent shooting and won the battle of the boards 45-37. "We needed all of it to beat a good Kansas State team." Howard, who missed the previous game due to the concussion protocol, scored 19 points on 6-of-16 shooting and has dipped into second place entering Monday on the national scoring list with 25.1 points per game. The Tigers are 2-5 against Division I opponents but have four victories in as many tries against non-Division I foes, including an 82-54 rout of Rust College on Saturday. They'll follow up their challenging trip to Marquette with a visit to No. 12 Dayton next Monday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin

ABOUT GRAMBLING STATE (6-5): Senior forward Devante Jackson leads the Tigers with 15 points per game and is shooting 23-for-38 from the floor over his last four games after going 8-for-12 in the win over Rust. Sophomore guard Cam Christon scored 15 in Saturday's victory in his debut with the program following a transfer from Boise State. Senior guard Ivy Smith Jr. averages 11.6 points, a team-leading 5.2 assists and 3.09 steals, tied for seventh in the nation.

ABOUT MARQUETTE (7-2): With Howard less than 100 percent in the last game, the Golden Eagles found contributions elsewhere and junior forward Jamal Cain stepped up with a career-high 17 points while sophomore guard Greg Elliott hit all three of his 3-point tries. "Everyone we put in made winning plays," Wojciechowski told the media. "When Kansas State was making their runs, Jamal came up with numerous hustle plays. Our bench was a huge part of this win." Senior guard Sacar Anim chipped in 13 points and he ranks second to Howard on the team with 11.9 per game.

TIP-INS

1. Howard is 7-for-28 from the floor over his last two games.

2. Tigers 7-1 C Travon Bunch averages 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 18.1 minutes.

3. Marquette owns a 5-0 series advantage while averaging 94.4 points.

PREDICTION: Marquette 84, Grambling 61