| 
Badgers Edge Marquette in Annual Clash By Barry The Bear |
IdataSports.com Sports Staff Writer
barrythebear@webtv.net
Posted Sun Dec 21 20:01:19 2003
Despite the fact that Wisconsin handicapped Marquette a 9-0 lead on Saturday afternoon, and allowed Travis Diener a game high 19 points, the Badgers gave Bo Ryan a nice birthday present with a thrilling 63-59 victory.
Diener got Marquette rolling as he nailed a three point shot about two minutes into the game to give Marquette a 5-0 lead. The lead for Marquette grew to 9-0, before Wilkinson finally got the Badgers on the board at the fifteen minute mark. Marquette would roll on and score at will, while the Badgers were very slow to get going. Marquette built it back to a nine point margin at 16-7, before the Badgers would go on a 6-0 run paced by a three pointer from Devin Harris made it 16-13. Marquette continued to roll, this time behind Novak who hit for five straight points to keep the Marquette lead at 23-17. As the first half rolled along, so did Diener, as he would hit for three again to give Marquette their biggest advantage of 11 points at 29-18. The Badgers then woke and found their shooting poise and rolled off a 10-0 run to cut the gap to one at 29-28. Owens would then connect on two free throws to give Wisconsin their first lead of the game at 30-29. The teams traded baskets for the final portion of the half and closed it out ties at 32-32.
The see-saw battle carried over nto the second half. Novak hit for three giving Marquette a brief 35-33 lead. The Badgers answered and built up a five point margin, two times 42-37 and 44-39. Eventually the Badgers capped off a 14-7 run to lead by seven at 46-39. Marquette stormed back to a 48-45 deficit behind consecutive three pointers from Diener and Chapman. With 5:30 remaining, the game was still close at 52-49 in favor of Wisconsin. Novak then converted two free throws to draw Marquette within one at 52-51. By the three minute mark, Wisconsin led by four points at 57-53. Then Diener again connected for three for a 57-56 game. Tucker would convert two sets of free throws for Wisconsin down the stretch to keep the slim margin in Wisconsin's favor at 62-59 with :33 left.
Novak tried a three point shot and it missed, Harris rebounded for the Badgers and was fouled. He hit one of the two to make the FINAL SCORE
Wisconsin 63
Marquette 59
With the victory, the Badgers have now won 19 straight games at the Kohl Center.
PLUS..... Wisconsin now leads the all-time series 60-50
|
