University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Marquette University
Memphis Prevails Against Marquette
Mar 08, 2001 | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2001
By CHRIS DUNCAN
Associated Press Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kelly Wise scored 16 points, including a decisive three-point play with 45.5 seconds left, as Memphis beat Marquette 71-64 Thursday night to advance to the semifinals of the Conference USA tournament at Freedom Hall.
Shamel Jones also had 16 and Earl Barron scored 11 for fourth-seeded Memphis (17-13), which will play top-seeded Cincinnati on Friday. The Bearcats (22-8) ousted eighth-seeded UAB 73-70 earlier Thursday night.
Third-seeded Charlotte (19-10) will play second-seeded Southern Miss (22-7) in Friday's other semifinal.
Brian Wardle scored 25 but was the only double-figure scorer for Marquette (15-14), the league's lowest-scoring team.
The Tigers never trailed, but Marquette almost came back from a 15-point deficit in the second half.
Memphis led 22-19 after Wardle's three-point play with 6:04 left in the first half. The Tigers answered with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes and took an 11-point lead to halftime.
They scored the first two baskets of the second half to lead 38-23 before Cordell Henry triggered a 15-2 run with a 3-pointer from the wing.
The Tigers built the lead back to nine by the nine-minute mark, but Marquette crept to within 51-47 on a 3-pointer by Odartey Blankson and short jumper by Scott Merritt. The Eagles twice cut the deficit to two before Greg Clausen's free throws with 3:07 left tied the game at 57-57.
The teams traded baskets over the next minute before Wise went up strong for a lay-in and got fouled by Wardle with 45.5 seconds left. Wise sank the ensuing free throw for a 64-61 lead.
Courtney Trask made two free throws with 31.5 seconds left to extend the lead to five, and Jones sank two more foul shots with 12.4 seconds left to put the game out of reach.
