In what is rapidly becoming a lost season for the Marquette Golden Eagles, Steve Wojciechowski's team may have felt its final NCAA Tournament nail Wednesday night after their 96-64 loss at No. 5 Villanova.
Marquette (9-11, 5-9 in Big East play) were shorthanded, playing without freshmen forwards Justin Lewis and Oso Ighodaro because of injuries. Still, the Golden Eagles suffered their most lopsided loss of the season, and have now dropped five of their last six games.
"I thought our guys competed in the first half," Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski said. "I didn't think we competed to the level we're capable of, or at least I think we're capable of, in the second half."
MU's Dawson Garcia led all scorers with 28, but Villanova (13-2 overall, 8-1 in Big East play) had all five starters score in double digits, led by Jeremiah Robinson-Earl's 27 points.
Marquette is just beginning their five-game road trip. They will next be in action Sunday afternoon at Seton Hall, starting at 2 p.m.