Marquette University Athletics
Men' Basketball Downed by Memphis
2/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
A new-look starting line-up was not enough for Marquette (13-8, 4-6) to cool the Memphis (18-4, 9-2) hot streak, as the Tigers beat MU 89-71, Saturday night at the Bradley Center. Marcus Jackson got his first start as a Golden Eagle, contributing two points and two rebounds in 22 minutes. Joe Chapman returned to the starting line-up, in hopes of picking up the Marquette defensive intensity.
Memphis raced out, quite literally, to put Marquette on defensive. Following a game-opening lay-up by Jeremy Hunt, the Tigers went deep, as their next eight buckets were of the three-point variety, including three on fast breaks, to help forge a nine-point advantage (30-21) with just under seven minutes to play in the first half.
Memphis canned ten treys in the opening period, accounting for 30 of their 40 scored points, and also outpaced Marquette in fast break points, 16-0 in the first half. Scott Merritt and Travis Diener did their best to keep Marquette close, each scoring six points in the first half to lead Marquette. Freshman Sean Banks paced the Tigers, making 5-of-6 from the three-point line to notch 15 first-half points.
The Marquette offense revved up in the second half, improving on a 28.1 first half shooting percentage, to go 13-of-25 from the field in the second half (52.0 percent). Steve Novak led the Marquette attack, scoring 13 second-half points, shooting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
However, a 20-to-11 rebounding disadvantage in the second half prevented Marquette from closing the gap, as Memphis outscored the Golden Eagles 49-43 in the second half.
Novak led four Marquette scorers in double figure, with 16. Diener (15), Dameon Mason (13) and Merritt (11) accounted for the bulk of the offense. Mason led the Golden Eagles in rebounding, with nine, and Terry Sanders added seven boards in his first game of the season off the bench.
Sean Banks led the Tigers in scoring, with 28. Four others scored in double figures for Memphis, which won its ninth-straight game: Anthony Rice (17), Jeremy Hunt (16), Antonio Burks (14 points and 11 assists) and Rodney Carney (12).
Marquette hits the road next, traveling to Saint Louis to take on the Billikens on Wednesday. Tip-off at the Savvis Center is slated for 8 p.m.
