MARQUETTE SURVIVES UTAH STATE CHALLENGE

March 21, 2009


The afternoon was not as easy for Marquette in Boise as the Golden Eagles battled back from a six-point deficit in the last four and a half minutes to hold off the upset bid of Utah State, 58-57.

Utah State used an 11-0 run to put a major scare into Marquette as the Golden Eagle offense looked like it was stuck back in Milwaukee for much of the game.

With seniors Jerel McNeal and Wesley Mathews struggling all game, shooting a combined six of 27 from the floor, junior Lazar Hayward came up huge for Buzz Williams’ club, scoring 26 points.

After a Mathews bucket cut the Utah State lead to 49-45, ending their 11-0 run, Mathews hit three of four from the line and Hayward went 4-4 as MU grabbed a 52-51 lead. McNeal then hit a driving bucket in the lane to give MU a three-point cushion and a pair of Maurice Acker free throws stretched the lead to 56-51 with 34 seconds to go.

Marquette will take on Missouri, the #3 seed, out of the Big 12 in the second round on Sunday in Boise.