Marquette’s Markus Howard poured in 38 points and became the school’s all-time leading scorer in an 88-53 victory over Loyola (Md.) on Tuesday. BIG EAST teams were 7-0 on opening night, all with comfortable margins of victory.
Howard needed 30 points to tie Jerel McNeal (2005-09), who was the previous leader with 1,985 points, and he got 30 by halftime before netting eight more in the second half. He has 1,993 career points. Sacar Anim and newcomer Koby McEwen each added 11 points.
Villanova, ranked 10th in both national polls, defeated Army West Point 97-54. For only the second time in Jay Wright’s 19 seasons, two freshmen started.