FACTS & STATS: Site: Bradley Center (19,150) -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Television: ESPN Full Court. Home Record: C. Michigan 1-1, Marquette 4-0. Away Record: C. Michigan 1-2, Marquette 1-1. Neutral Record: C. Michigan 0-0, Marquette 0-0. Conference Record: C. Michigan 0-0, Marquette 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The 25th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles of the Big East Conference welcome the Central Michigan Chippewas of the Mid-American Conference to the Bradley Center this evening.

Central Michigan is off to a shaky 2-3 start, and the team is coming off a 77-67 loss to Illinois-Chicago. Considering that the club also lost to Missouri State at home, fans of the Chippewas have reason to be concerned. Their squad enters as an obvious underdog tonight, as Marquette features a ton of talent and experience in the starting lineup.

The Golden Eagles opened the season with five consecutive double-digit wins before finally suffering a setback to Dayton on Saturday. That 89-75 defeat was part of the Chicago Invitational.

This game marks the first-ever meeting between Marquette and Central Michigan on the hardwood.

Chris Kellermann is the top performer for Central Michigan, as the forward is scoring 16.2 ppg to go along with 6.4 rpg. Jeremy Allen adds 14.6 ppg to the mix, and Robbie Harman checks in with 10.4 ppg. The Chippewas are averaging 64.6 ppg while limiting the opposition to 68.4 ppg. In the loss to Illinois- Chicago last time out, Harman led his team with 17 points, six assists and four steals, while Kellermann came through with 13 points. As for Allen, he contributed 12 points for the Chippewas, who shot a lackluster 39 percent from the floor and 11-of-20 from the foul line. A 41-28 rebounding disadvantage also contributed to the loss.

Marquette simply did not shoot the ball well against Dayton on Saturday, as a 39.3 percent effort from the floor, including 4-of-20 from three-point range, led to the team's first loss of the season. Defensively, the squad permitted the Flyers to connect on 52.6 percent of its field goal attempts. Leading the way in defeat for the Golden Eagles was Wesley Matthews with 28 points. Domonic James pitched in with 19 points and eight assists, while Jerel McNeal tallied 16 points. All three players are starting guards with tremendous versatility, as they combined for 20 rebounds. Through six games, Matthews is racking up 22.7 ppg on 52.1 percent shooting from the field. McNeal checks in with 18.0 ppg, and Lazar Hayward adds 17.2 ppg and 9.3 rpg to the mix. James rounds out the foursome of double-digit scorers with 11.2 ppg, and he is dishing out 5.7 apg.

Clearly, Marquette is superior to Central Michigan and will win by double digits. Expect a balanced offensive effort as usual by the Golden Eagles.

Predicted Outcome

Marquette 84, Central Michigan 66