WASHINGTON, D.C. – Under the brightest spotlight either team has played in years, one squad rose to the occasion, while the other came up woefully short.
The 3rd-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles are one victory away from the Final Four, after a 71-61 triumph over 2nd-seeded Miami in a game which was not nearly as close as the final score may indicate. Marquette took a 5-4 lead on a free throw early in the first half, never trailed again, and led by as many as 22. They held the Hurricanes to just 16 first-half points – by far Miami’s lowest 20-minute output this season – and limited the ACC Champions to just 35.5% shooting from the field.
Jamil Wilson led a balanced Golden Eagle attack with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Davante Gardner and Vander Blue each added 14 points apiece. Trent Lockett added eight points and 11 rebounds for the victors, who reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 2003. Shane Larkin led Miami with 14 points, as the Hurricanes failed to reach the school’s first-ever Regional Final. Marquette will now face Big East rival Syracuse in the East Regional Finals on Saturday, as the 4th-seeded Orange knocked off top-seeded Indiana, 61-50. Marquette defeated Syracuse in the teams’ only prior matchup this season, 74-71 at home.
Ian Eagle and John Thompson called the action on Westwood One Sports.
(Vander Blue with the nice hoop as Marquette races out to 12-4 lead)
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(Shane Larkin connects on a three as Miami cuts into the early deficit)
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(Trent Lockett gets inside for putback slam as lead grows to nine)
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(Blue knocks down a jumper just before the half for 29-16 advantage)
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(Jamil Wilson gets into the act by knocking down a three for 18-point lead)
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(Wilson again, this time inside for the dunk)
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(The Golden Eagles are off to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2003!)
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(Postgame interview with Marquette’s Jamil Wilson)
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