Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
South Florida
Men's Basketball Edges South Florida, 72-68
1/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2001
By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE - Brian Wardle scored 28 points and Marquette withstood a career-high 35 points from junior forward Altron Jackson in a 72-68 victory over South Florida on Wednesday night.
Wardle clinched the game with two free throws with 4.3 seconds left after Jackson's final basket, a tough turnaround jumper that cut the Bulls' deficit to 70-68.
The Golden Eagles (8-6, 3-0) are the last unbeaten team in Conference USA, and they improved to 9-2 against the Bulls (11-5, 3-1).
South Florida lost for just the second time in 11 games. Their only other loss in that span also came in Wisconsin, an overtime loss in Madison to the then 13th-ranked Badgers on Dec. 30.
Jackson, whose previous career best was 32 points against Davidson in the season opener, scored 21 points in the final 9:39 of the first half, helping South Florida erase an early 13-point deficit to take a 33-31 halftime lead.
Marquette jumped out to a 17-4 lead but unsuccessfully tried forcing the ball inside for points in the paint. The Bulls would have none of it, swatting away four shots and intercepting four passes.
Jackson, who missed his first four shots, sank eight in a row.
He scored all but four of the Bulls' points in a 22-11 run that tied it at 30, and his 3-pointer with nine seconds left in the half gave the Bulls their first lead at 33-31.
Wardle played suffocating defense on Jackson to start the second half, denying him any touches for five minutes - then, Jackson scored six points on two possessions with a three-point play and a 3-pointer.
But by now, Wardle was hot, too. His 3-pointer with nine minutes left broke a 53-53 tie and the Eagles would never trail again, although their lead would be cut to two twice in the final 19 seconds.
Jackson's jumper made it 67-64 with 28 seconds left, and after Cordell Henry hit one of two free throws, Jackson sank another jumper, this one with 19 seconds left, making it 68-66.
Oluoma Nnamaka (14 points) hit two free throws with 17 seconds remain
