Marquette University Athletics
Marquette Comes Up Short at Wisconsin
12/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MADISON, Wis. -- At first glance, it appeared that the frigid outdoor temperatures had invaded the Kohl Center, Saturday, as Marquette built up a 9-0 lead over the first five minutes while Wisconsin began the game 0-for-7 from the floor. But Wisconsin and the contest eventually warmed up, ending in a 63-59 decision for the Badgers.
The contrast in styles was never more evident, as Marquette shot 9-of-18 from behind-the-arc, while Wisconsin shot 1-of-12 from the three-point line. Wisconsin was strong inside, scoring 36 points in the paint, and drawing enough contact to get to the free throw line 32 times, making 22.
Marquette (7-2) went deep into its bench in the first half, using twelve players over the first fifteen minutes of play. Fouls became a story early, as Marquette racked up four before Wisconsin (7-1) was charged with its first at the 11-minute mark. For the game, the Golden Eagles had 23 team fouls, while the Badger escaped with 12. More importantly, Wisconsin was able to convert 22-of-32 free throws, while Marquette made only six free throws, in nine attempts.
Wisconsin?s Zach Morley brought the Badgers to life, midway through the first half with a three pointer followed by two free throws and an lay-up in the paint cut the Marquette lead to 11-16 with 10 minutes to play. Steve Novak kept Marquette ahead with consecutive runners and a three-pointer from straight away for a 23-18 lead with 6:45 to play. Novak?s offensive outburst let Marquette rest Travis Diener, who came back from a 3 minute rest with back-to-back three point plays (one the old-fashioned way, one from behind-the-arc) to put Marquette up 29-18. From there, six Marquette turnovers over the final five minutes of the half allowed the Badgers to close the half on a 14-3 run, to tie the score at 32-32 going to the break.
For the first half, Marquette shot a solid 56.5 percent from the floor, including 55.6 from behind the arc. However, sloppy ball-handling led Marquette to 11 turnovers, which UW converted for 12 points. Nine-of-twelve shooting from the free throw line helped make up a 37.9 shooting performance from the floor.
The second half saw Wisconsin continue its strong inside presence, as the Badgers got their first 11 of 14 points of the second half in the paint (the other three points on free throws), as they ran to a 46-39 lead with 11:24 to play. On the day, Wisconsin held a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint, and 11-4 in second chance points.
Travis Diener?s three pointer brought MU back to a 46-42 deficit at the 11 minute mark, but Devin Harris made two free throws to extend to 48-42. Joe Chapman hit a trey and a spinning layup to cut the Badger lead to 50-47, with eight-plus minutes to play. From there, Marquette would cut the lead to one on four separate occasions (the last at 1:04 to go), but Steve Novak?s three points attempt fell off the mark with 13 seconds to play, giving the Badgers a 63-59 win.
Travis Diener led game scorers with 19, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists. Steve Novak chipped in 12 points and five rebounds, while Karon Bradley added ten points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-3 behind-the-arc. Alando Tucker and Devin Harris led Wisconsin with17 and 15 points, respectively.
