Marquette University
Cincinnati
Men's Basketball Falls to Cincinnati, 70-66
2/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2006
MILWAUKEE - Cincinnati's Eric Hicks' triple double of 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks proved to be too much as the Marquette men's basketball team was narrowly defeated by Cincinnati, 70-66. With the win the Golden Eagles fall to 11-4, 1-1 BIG EAST, while the Bearcats improve to 13-2, 2-0 BIG EAST.
"Cincinnati executed its game plan and played the full 40 minutes and I don't think we did that today," head coach Tom Crean said. "That is all part of the process with this team. Our guys are proving all the time that they had the capabilities to win, but today we didn't have the patience or the poise with our execution. Nor did we realize that it is a possession-by-possession game. We are going to be in a lot of these type of games. We know that we can never get to high when we are up or to low when we are down."
Hicks 22 points led all scorers, going 9-of-13 from the field while the Bearcats collectively made 43.3 percent of their attempts (26-of-60). Armein Kirkland, James White and Jihad Muhammad also had double digit points totals with 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Senior forward Steve Novak collected his second straight double double with 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Dominic James led all MU scorers with 18 points. Jerel McNeal also added 16 points in the loss.
The Bearcats had the edge on the glass grabbing 42 boards - 26 in the second half - while the Golden Eagles registered 36. Marquette had the first half rebound advantage grabbing 19 boards compared to 16 from Cincinnati.
Marquette made 37.9 percent of its attempts and was just 8-of-28 from the field in the second half resulting in 20 second half points. MU scored just nine points in the final 10 minutes of the half as the Bearcats erased MU's 12 point lead in a 10 minute span.
The Golden Eagles maintained a lead throughout the early portions of the second half, but a tip-in by Cedric McGowan was part of a 11-2 run by Cincinnati in which the Bearcats took their first lead since the 5:42 mark in the first half with 9:18 to play.
Prior to Cincinnati taking its first lead, McNeal hit a jumper giving MU a three-point advantage, 59-56, but consecutive baskets from Hicks and Armein Kirkland put the point advantage in favor of the Bearcats. After Cincinnati took its first second half lead, another trey from Kirkland pushed the Bearcats lead to four points, 63-59, with 6:28 left in the game.
Cincinnati extended its lead to five points, 65-60, thanks to another bucket from Hicks. A jumper from McNeal and consecutive free throws from James late in the game was not enough as the Bearcats sealed the win, 70-66.
Marquette went into the locker room with a 10-point advantage, 46-36, at the half. The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as four points at one point, but Marquette rallied with 6-0 run going ahead 32-30 with just over four minutes left in the first. A jumper by Devan Downey tied the game at 32 apiece but back-to-back treys from Novak gave Marquette a six-point lead, 40-34.
The Golden Eagles will begin a three game road trip with its first stop at Seton Hall on Wednesday, January 11. Tip-off is set for 7:30 EST.
