Marquette University Athletics
Men's Basketball Falls at DePaul
2/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
(AP) ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Delonte Holland scored 21 points and Drake Diener hit four free throws in the final 15.9 seconds to lead DePaul to a 84-78 win over Marquette on Saturday.
DePaul (13-7, 6-3 Conference USA) beat the Golden Eagles for the first time in eight meetings, though they nearly blew a 15-point lead before hanging on to win. The Blue Demons have won six of seven.
The Golden Eagles (13-7, 4-5) trailed by 10 with 2:36 left when Travis Diener and Steven Novak rallied them back. Diener hit his sixth 3 of the game, and Novak made three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt to make it 75-70 with 1:19 to go.
Marquette had several chances to make it closer, but Novak missed two 3-point attempts in the closing seconds and Drake Diener sank four straight free throws to seal the win.
Andre Brown had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman Sammy Mejia had nine points and a career-high 12 assists for DePaul.
The win spoiled a standout performance from Travis Diener, Drake Diener's cousin. The Marquette guard made 7-of-10 3-point attempts and scored a career-high 31 points.
The Golden Eagles, who have lost five of their last seven, were down by 10 early in the second half when Terry Sanders scored on a post move and Travis Diener hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 45-40 -- the closest Marquette had been since early in the game.
Travis Diener later scored eight straight and hit a 3 from two feet beyond the arc to pull the Golden Eagles within 58-55.
After a basket by Holland, Travis Diener was pulled from the game for a short breather.
DePaul took advantage of his absence.
The Blue Demons outscored Marquette 7-0 with Travis Diener out of the game. Holland made back-to-back 3s and Marlon Brumfield hit a free throw to extend DePaul's lead back to 12 with 6:08 left.
Mejia, who had seven assists in the first half, had just two turnovers and repeatedly broke down Marquette's defense for easy baskets.
Quemont Greer had 15 points, and Drake Diener finished with 11 for DePaul.
The Blue Demons then went on a 10-2 run in the first half to extend their lead to 15, their largest of the game. LeVar Seals and Drake Diener had back-to-back dunks during the spurt, and Seals capped the run with a short jumper in the lane to make it 32-17.
DePaul led 38-31 the half and shot 65 percent in the second half.
