MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Marquette men’s basketball gets its 2026-27 season going Monday night in Milwaukee, Wis., when Mercyhurst comes to Fiserv Forum for the opener.
It is the 110th season of Golden Eagles basketball, and the matchup is a new one. Marquette and the Lakers, who play in the Northeast Conference, have never met before. Next up is Detroit Mercy that Friday, a home date on campus at the Al McGuire Center that only students can attend.
History favors the home side on opening night. Marquette owns a 93-16 record in season openers and has won 33 of its last 35, a run that includes 10 straight. From 1960-61 through 1988-89 the program started 1-0 every year for 29 seasons in a row.
Coach Shaka Smart’s team is trying to bounce back after a 12-20 finish last season. The Golden Eagles were 10-7 at home, shot 43.8% from the floor and made 31.8% of their threes.
The preseason offered reasons for optimism. Marquette won both exhibitions, beating Green Bay 87-60 on the road Oct. 19 and then, six days later on home floor, taking down sixth-ranked Michigan State by a final of 86-79. Junior forward Royce Parham gave the team 12 points and eight rebounds against the Spartans. Sophomore guard Nigel James Jr., a preseason All-Big East first-team pick, had 18 points and 10 rebounds against Green Bay. He averaged 16.4 points a game last season and was named the league’s top freshman.
Mercyhurst went 17-17 a year ago and won only five of its 19 games away from home, a 5-14 road mark. The Lakers scored 69.3 points a game and gave up 67.4.
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