Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Saint Louis
Men's Basketball Holds Off Saint Louis, 61-53
1/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2002
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Odartey Blankson scored a career-high 23 points as Marquette held off Saint Louis 61-53 in a Conference USA game Saturday night.
Marquette (13-3, 2-1) had lost three of its last five games after opening the season with 10 consecutive victories.
The Golden Eagles took the lead for good with a 12-2 spurt midway through the second half.
Jason Edwin hit a jumper from the left side to put Saint Louis on top 45-40 with 9:30 remaining, but Cordell Henry hit consecutive 3-pointers to trigger the run that put Marquette up 52-47.
Marquette maintained its cushion the rest of the way thanks to misses by Saint Louis at the free-throw line. The Billikens missed 9 of their last 11 free throw attempts over the final 7:18.
Saint Louis pulled within 55-53 on Edwin's rebound basket with 1:35 left but committed a turnover and missed its final three shots as Marquette pulled away.
Edwin led the Billikens (8-8, 2-1) with 16 points.
The Golden Eagles erased an early 18-12 deficit with an eight-point run late in the first half en route to a 30-25 halftime lead.
Saint Louis opened the second half with a 14-3 run for its biggest lead of the second half at 39-33.
