The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE - Travis Diener and Terry Sanders scored 13 points each, and No. 24 Marquette stayed undefeated by beating Grambling, 71-55, Friday night.

Marquette (6-0) also got 12 points from Scott Merritt and 10 from Karon Bradley.

Grambling (1-4) was led by Brion Rush's 24 points.

Diener hit a 3-pointer to start the second half, putting Marquette ahead by 21. The Tigers responded with nine straight points to pull within 45-33, but got no closer.

Grambling managed only eight points in the final 10 minutes, five coming in the final minute.

GRAMBLING ST. (1-4) - Haynes 5-16 1-2 13, Williams 1-3 0-0 2, Haygood 4-5 0-0 11, Searight 1-5 0-2 2, Rush 7-15 4-4 24, Lewis 0-2 1-3 1, Ellis 0-1 0-0 0, Hill 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 18-49 8-13 55.

MARQUETTE (6-0) - Merritt 4-6 3-4 12, Novak 2-7 2-2 7, Sanders 5-6 3-5 13, Chapman 3-4 1-2 8, Diener 5-10 0-0 13, Townsend 1-3 0-0 2, Christian 0-0 0-0 0, Bradley 3-8 2-2 10, Sichting 0-1 0-0 0, Bell 0-0 0-0 0, Mason 1-4 2-4 4, Gries 0-0 0-0 0, Jackson 1-2 0-0 2, Freund 0-0 0-0 0, Grimm 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-51 13-19 71

Halftime-Marquette 42-24. 3-Point goals-Grambling 11-26 (Rush 6-13, Haygood 3-4, Haynes 2-6, Searight 0-1, Lewis 0-1, Ellis 0-1), Marquette 8-20 (Diener 3-5, Bradley 2-4, Merritt 1-1, Chapman 1-2, Novak 1-5, Sichting 0-1, Townsend 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Grambling 26 (Hill 7), Marquette 35 (Novak 6). Assists-Grambling 13 (Searight 8), Marquette 21 (Diener 7). Total fouls-Grambling 20, Marquette 15. A-14,255.

CONNECTICUT: Freshman Charlie Villanueva is set to make his debut today against Army. He missed UConn's first six regular-season games while the university and the NCAA determined his eligibility.

The 6-foot-10 Villanueva considered declaring for the NBA draft, and the eligibility question stemmed from his workouts in front of NBA scouts last summer.

NCAA rules state that the player or a family member or friend who is not involved with basketball must pay all the expenses for such workouts.