Marquette's Matt Carlino (13) will be a game-time decision against Creighton on Saturday. Credit: TNS

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Omaha, Neb. — The first meeting between Marquette and Creighton this season was one of the more memorable nights of the Golden Eagles' 2014-'15 campaign. Matt Carlino sank a three-pointer with 11.2 seconds left, and the home crowd went home happy after an exciting game.

The flurry at the finish made it easy to forget the first 39 minutes and the lackluster offensive showing from both sides. Creighton went 0 for 15 during a stretch of more than 91/2 minutes in the first half, and Marquette went without a field goal for more than 10 minutes in the second.

When Marquette (11-13, 3-9) and Creighton (11-14, 2-10) meet again at noon Saturday at CenturyLink Center, it will be a showcase of the two lowest-scoring teams in Big East play. Carlino, who had 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting in the first meeting, has missed the past two games with a concussion, and whether he can play will be a game-time decision.

In a game between two ineffective offenses and with Marquette possibly down its leading scorer, the deciding factor could be which team is most successful at forcing difficult shots and turning defense into offense.

Defense has been a strength of the Golden Eagles this season. They rank third in the Big East, allowing 66.8 points per conference game and have held Big East opponents to 40.1% shooting, the best mark in the league.

"Their changing defenses from their aggressive man-to-man to their 1-3-1 to their 2-3 zone, (MU coach Steve Wojciechowski) has done a great job of keeping teams off balance the entire season and keeping his team competitive," Creighton coach Greg McDermott said.

Marquette has gotten out to double-digit leads in its past two games. Despite being without Carlino and down to seven scholarship players, the Golden Eagles utilized an aggressive man-to-man to force early turnovers.

"I think sometimes the second time around people get more comfortable with what you're doing," Wojciechowski said of using more man-to-man. "I think we have to mix it up and try to figure out ways to get stops, to score off our defense and keep teams off balance."

No matter what defense Marquette uses Saturday — Wojciechowski says his team is prepared to use all three — the key will be to create extra possessions and easier opportunities for its offense.

That's been a recipe for success this season, especially early in each of the past three games.

"I think Marquette has done an unbelievable job of turning people over and turning them into easy baskets," McDermott said. "That will certainly be our focus early in the game.

"We have to take care of the basketball and at least make them earn every basket that they get."

Creating turnovers at the start of the game is good, but in each of the past three games those numbers have dropped off after the first few minutes.

The Golden Eagles will need to keep up their defensive energy throughout Saturday's game in order to come out of one of the most hostile environments in the Big East with a victory.

"That's something where we have to dig deep," Wojciechowski said. "The numbers that we have are the numbers that we have. The more we can find it in ourselves to maintain (defensive intensity) for as long as possible the better we chance we give ourselves to win."

SATURDAY

Marquette at Creighton, noon.

TV: FS1

Radio: AM-540