College basketball

USF's bid to upset Marquette fails

By DARRYL MELLEMA
Published January 16, 2005

MILWAUKEE - Throughout Saturday's game, South Florida worked to get the ball inside.

The result was a series of short-range baskets and Marquette fouls that gave the Bulls free-throw chances.

That brought the Bulls to the brink of an upset, but No.22 Marquette hit an inside basket with five seconds left to give it a 66-64 win.

"You've got a group of guys in the locker room that's real hurt," USF coach Robert McCullum said. "It's probably the most difficult loss to deal with since I've been here. We've just got to find a way to get over the hump."

Todd Townsend scored the winning layup and was fouled by Solomon Jones. Townsend completed the three-point play.

USF (9-6, 1-2 Conference USA) called timeout with two seconds left. Brian Swift's shot at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced clear.

"It was right there," Terrence Leather said. "We can play with anybody. We can match up with anybody. I take my hat off to Marquette. They came back and found a way to win."

During his career, Travis Diener has been the player to whom the Golden Eagles have turned when games got close.

Leather has filled the same role for the Bulls.

Diener and Leather took turns hitting key shots. Diener scored 24 and Leather 25. The two seniors hugged after the buzzer.

"That was an emotional game," Leather said. "He just told me, "You're a great player and keep working."'

Marquette recovered from an 11-point halftime deficit early in the second half. Ryan Amoroso hit a 3-pointer, and following a USF turnover, Dameon Mason dunked from the right wing to cut it to 50-48.

Diener hit a 3-pointer with 4:18 left to give Marquette its first lead, 60-59.

USF took a 64-63 lead with 25 seconds left on a Marlyn Bryant's layup but the Golden Eagles rallied.

The Bulls scored the first six, never trailed in the first half and took a 36-25 edge into the second. They outscored Marquette 14-6 in the paint before halftime.

[Last modified January 16, 2005, 00:34:19]