Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Tulane
Golden Eagles Cruise To Victory Over Green Wave
1/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 14, 2003
By BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Tulane couldn't find anything wrong with the way it played defense against Dwyane Wade.
Wade simply was not to be stopped on Tuesday night, scoring 35 points on an array of inside, mid-range and outside shots to lead No. 21 Marquette to an 85-73 victory over the Green Wave.
"Wade was phenomenal. He took over the game and showed why he's going to be a lottery pick," Tulane coach Shawn Finney said. "We tried to deny him the ball, we trapped him, we tried to make him take contested shots, and he kept jumping up and making them."
Wade converted alley-oop dunks, a 3-pointer, fast-break layups and even finessed outside shots off the glass in a dazzling display that seemed to demoralize Tulane (7-8, 0-2 Conference USA) every time it made a run to get close.
"We played good defense on him on a lot of those shots. We even fouled him some, but he still hit the shots," said Waitari Marsh, who led Tulane with 30 points.
Wade, who shot 13-of-16 from the field, said it was no coincidence that several of his spurts came just when Tulane seemed ready to seize momentum.
"I think my teammates needed me at the time and I had some good shots," Wade said. "I really didn't try to force anything. And once I get hot I like to keep going."
More impressive than Wade's point total was the fact he missed only three shots, according to Marquette coach Tom Crean.
"He took the shots that were given to him, he created well and played with a lot of intensity throughout the night," he said.
Travis Diener hit two 3-pointers in the second half and finished with 16 points for Marquette (11-3, 3-1), which has won three straight. Robert Jackson added 13 points, mostly by muscling his way inside, and 10 rebounds. Marquette shot just over 59 percent from the field and outrebounded Tulane 36-28
Marsh hit two of his three 3-pointers and scored 27 of his points in the second half for Tulane, which was within one basket with about seven minutes left but never pulled even.
Brandon Brown scored 16 points and Wayne Tinsley had 10 for Tulane, which shot just under 44 percent.
Marsh scored seven straight points to pull Tulane within 54-49 with 12:05 left. He later finished a fast break as Tulane got as close as 61-59.
But Marquette responded with two strong inside baskets by Jackson and Wade's end-to-end basket after he grabbed a loose ball and dribbled past two defenders that made it 67-58 with 5:30 left.
Wade finished about 12 points above his average. Diener, the point guard, said Marquette's offense could have been more balanced, but Wade's performance made getting the ball to him the preferred option.
"Tonight, obviously, he was unbelievable, so if Tulane was making a run, I was making a conscious effort of getting him the ball," Diener said.
Wade, who had 14 points in the first half, ignited a 10-2 run late in the half by hitting a jump-hook in the post and taking a steal hard to the right elbow before pulling up for a jumper off the glass.
Diener then drew a blocking foul away from the basket and Finney argued, drawing a technical. Steve Novak hit both technical free throws, then Diener hit both of his, giving Marquette a 37-28 lead before Brandon Spann converted on a drive just before the halftime buzzer to pull Tulane within 37-30.
