Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Houston
Eagles Hold Off Houston
2/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2000
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Brian Wardle scored 19 points and Oluoma Nnamaka made a pair of key free throws as Marquette held off Houston 65-61 in a Conference USA game Saturday.
Wardle missed the first end of a one-and-one with 11.1 seconds left, but Marquette's Brian Barone fouled Houston's Gee Gervin on the floor before the conference's leading scorer could launch a 3-pointer. Gervin missed the second of two shots and Nnamaka grabbed the rebound for Marquette and converted a pair of free throws at the other end for the final margin.
Marquette (13-8, 5-4 C-USA American), last in C-USA in scoring and No. 3 in scoring defense, paced the game to its favor. Houston is No. 2 in the league in scoring and last in scoring defense.
Gervin, who averages 19.2 points a game, scored 17 Saturday, but was quiet for a lengthy stretch in the middle of the game. Chad Hendrick added 14 points for the Cougars (8-14, 2-7 C-USA National).
John Cliff put in 14 points for Marquette.
Marquette limited Houston to just four points in the last 7:57 of the first half, turning a 27-23 deficit into a 36-31 halftime advantage. The burst gained momentum when Houston's Torrence Botts was called for an intentional foul on the driving Cordell Henry, and Henry hit both free throws to tie the game. Cliff hit a 17-footer from the left baseline on Marquette's next possession.
