NCAA Game Summary - Notre Dame at Marquette
(Saturday, March 2nd)
Final Score: (22) Marquette 72, (21) Notre Dame 64
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Jamil Wilson scored 19 points and Chris Otule
had 16 on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting effort as No. 22 Marquette edged 21st-
ranked Notre Dame, 72-64, in a Top-25 Big East showdown at the BMO Harris
Bradley Center.
Trent Lockett registered eight points, four rebounds and four assists for the
Golden Eagles (21-7, 12-4 Big East), who have won two straight and four of
their last five games overall. Marquette also clinched a double-bye in the
conference's championship tournament for the second straight year.
"Chris changes the complexion of our team when he's this dominant as he was
today." Marquette coach Buzz Williams said of Otule and his squad's depth.
"When all of our 10 guys show up, then it becomes really difficult for
me to get guys in-and-out."
The Golden Eagles finished their home portion of the schedule a perfect 16-0
this season and now have the nation's second-longest active streak with 25
straight victories dating back to last season.
Jerian Grant had 21 points, seven boards and five assists for the Fighting
Irish (22-7, 10-6), who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Eric Atkins and
Zach Auguste scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, in defeat.
Wilson's jumper 7 1/2 minutes into the second half made it 53-38. Notre Dame,
though, used a 6-0 spurt to get within nine, 56-47, with 7 1/2 minutes
remaining.
Marquette, however, managed to keep Notre Dame just out of striking distance
as the game came to a close. The Irish never got any closer than eight points
until Grant nailed a triple with 29 seconds left to close the gap to six, but
the home team still held a 70-64 edge.
A pair of Wilson free throws on the ensuing Marquette possession secured the
victory for the Golden Eagles.
Marquette jumped out to an early 18-6 advantage six-plus minutes into the
contest. The lead grew to 31-16 on Todd Mayo's triple with 8:15 remaining, and
the home team took a 41-27 margin into the break.
Notre Dame shot a mere 37 percent (10-of-27) in the first half compared to
64.3 percent (18-of-28) for the Golden Eagles.
"I give them a lot of credit," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. "When they get
two buckets in the paint to start, that just sets a heck of a tone and it
seemed like it was so hard for us to score."
Game Notes
Marquette has a 7-5 lead in the series versus Notre Dame in Big East matchups,
but trails 80-37 in the all-time series ... Notre Dame shot 7-of-25 from
behind the arc and 38.3 percent from the floor ... Marquette's bench outscored
the Irish by a 32-20 margin.
03/02 18:35:14 ET

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