Marquette University Athletics
Second half surge secures 82-68 win
1/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
January 8, 2005 - After trailing by as many as nine in the first half, Marquette (13-1) used an 18-4 run to open the second half and defeated Tulane (6-7), 82-68, at Fogelman Arena in New Orleans on Saturday night.
Senior point guard Travis Diener led the way for the Golden Eagles recording his second consecutive double-double with 21 points and 12 assists. Freshman Ryan Amoroso added a career high 18 points and eight rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.
Diener, with 549 assists, needs one assists to tie Cordell Henry for second all-time at the school.
Dameon Mason and Steve Novak were the only other Marquette players in double figures with 17 and 13, respectively.
Freshman Marcus Kinzer led the Green Wave in scoring with 20. Quincy Davis added 17 and David Gomez had 12.
Despite missing 16 of its first 20 shots and falling behind early, 19-10, the Golden Eagles scrapped to pull within two, at 28-26, on a one-hand dunk by junior Chris Grimm off a pass from Diener.
The Green Wave responded by closing out the first half with a 10-5 run, punctuated by a three-pointer from half court by Taylor Rochestie. Tulane shot 59.3-percent to Marquette's 34.3-percent in the opening 20 minutes.
The second half was the total opposite of the first, with Marquette outscoring Tulane 51-30 and shooting 65.5-percent (19-for-29).
Diener helped spur the early second half run by scoring 13 of the 18 points, and assisting with the other two, a lay-up by Mason and three-point shot by Novak.
The Golden Eagles picked up the intensity defensively, limiting the Green Wave to 10 field goals and 31.3-percent shooting.
Twice during the second half Marquette grew its lead to as many as 20.
Marquette returns to action Thursday, January 15 when it faces Memphis at the Fedex Forum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and is scheduled to tip at 8:00 p.m. CT.
>
