Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Rice
Men's basketball defeats Rice 82-65
2/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2005
MILWAUKEE (AP) - It was a good opening night for Marquette's freshmen class.
Starting three freshmen, Marquette overcame a slow start for an 82-65 victory over Rice Friday night in the first round of the Pepsi Blue & Gold Classic.
Marquette (1-0) will play Winthrop on Saturday in the championship game of the tournament, which the Golden Eagles have won the past six years. Winthrop beat IUPUI 73-50 in the opening game of the tournament. In all, Marquette has won 14 straight games in the Blue & Gold Classic.
All three highly touted freshmen played a role in the victory. Dominic James scored a team-high 16 points, handed out 9 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds. Fellow freshmen Jerel McNeal added 14 points and Wes Mathews chipped in 7 points.
Senior Steve Novak hit 3 of 7 3-pointers to add 13 points, while sophomore Tulane transfer Dan Fitzgerald had 9 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
"We got a lot of good basketball from a lot of people," said Marquette coach Tom Crean. "I'm impressed with the instinct and the natural ability that these freshmen have."
Novak said the freshmen were a bit nervous before their first college game.
"It was hard to talk to them because one would get up and walk around and then another would get up," he said. "It's good for them to get out there for the first time."
J.R. Harrison led Rice (0-1) with 18 points, while Jamal Moore added 14.
Rice coach Willis Wilson said he was impressed with Marquette's three freshman starters.
"I think they are a very talented group," Wilson said. "As they assert themselves more and learn the game, they are going to be terrific players."
Rice cut Marquette's lead to 47-40 with 14:42 remaining when Harrison hit a jumper.
Marquette then went on a 15-5 run to grab a 62-45 lead with 9:30 remaining when Mathews scored on a drive. He was fouled and hit the free throw to give Marquette its biggest lead of the game.
Rice came back to cut the lead to 66-56 when Moore scored on a dunk with 5:14 remaining. But Marquette put the game away with an 8-3 run for 74-59 lead with 2:48 remaining when Jamil Lott dunked off of a pass from James.
Marquette scored the last 11 points of the first half to grab a 39-32 halftime lead.
