Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Houston (Conference USA Championship)
Marquette Upset By Houston
3/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2000
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Kenny Younger scored 21 points Wednesday to lead Houston to a 77-75 victory over No. 5 seed Marquette in the opening round of the Conference USA tournament.
Younger, who was 7-of-10 from the field and hit all 7 of his free throws, led a trio of Cougars in double figures as Houston (9-21), the tournament's No. 12 seed, snapped an 11-game losing streak.
The Cougars now face No. 4 seed Tulane Thursday.
Marquette (15-13) held only one lead in the game, at 2-0, and tried valiantly to scrap back at the end behind the shooting of John Cliff, who led the Golden Eagles with 22 points.
But Houston held on by hitting 4-of-6 free throws in the final minute.
"In games where we suffer, we haven't scored any points in the final three minutes," said Houston coach Clyde Drexler. "(Today) we scored points."
Joining Younger in double figures for the Cougars were Chad Hendrick with 17, and Gee Gervin, who finished with 14.
Brian Wardle had 20 for Marquette, and Cordell Henry contributed 16.
Houston led 35-34 at the half, and held off an array of Golden Eagle spurts. Marquette cut the advantage to 1 point six times in the second half, the last two times on a pair of baskets by John Mueller with under eight minutes to play.
Marquette was within 3, 60-57, when Cliff hit a pair of free throws with 4:41 remaining. But on Houston's next two possessions, first Gervin, then Younger scored inside and were fouled. The 3-point plays gave Houston a 66-59 lead.
"It was bound to happen with their outstanding talent," Marquette coach Tom Crean said. "When you give up 50 percent from the field and 13 offensive rebounds, you're not going to win. We are a defensive and rebounding team."
Cliff tried to rally Marquette with 8 points in the final 3:20, and Wardle added 6 points in the last two minutes, but the Golden Eagles were never able to take the lead.
