[GoMarquette.com] No. 12/13 Marquette Downs Tourney Host Chaminade 74-63

[GoMarquetteSays]

No. 12/13 Marquette Downs Tourney Host Chaminade 74-63
         
box:
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/marq/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mu_chambox.pdf

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) -- Jerel McNeal scored eight of his 22 points in a late 11-2 run that let No. 11 Marquette hold off upset-minded Chaminade 74-63 on Monday in the opening round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Chaminade, the Division II host of this eight-team tournament, was able to get within three points in the second half, immediately bringing to mind the Silverswords' shocking upset of Virginia almost 25 years ago.

But McNeal keyed the deciding run with a tip-in of a missed free throw and three baskets on the break to let the Golden Eagles get some breathing room and avoid the upset.

The Golden Eagles (3-0) will face the winner of the LSU-Oklahoma State game in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Lazar Hayward added 15 points for Marquette, which is making its first appearance on Maui, while Dominic James and David Cubbilan both had 11.

McNeal finished 10-for-14 from the field.

Makro Kolaric had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Silverswords (1-1), while Rodrick Johnson added 13 points.

Chaminade, then an NAIA school, beat top-ranked Virginia and three-time national player of the year Ralph Sampson on Dec. 23, 1982, in what is considered by many the biggest upset in college basketball history.

This may not have shocked the world the way that result did, but it would have bettered all the upsets by mid-major teams early in this season.

The Silverswords got within three points for the third time in the second half when Johnson's turnaround jumper with 6:46 left made it 58-55. That's when McNeal took over with his athleticism.

He tipped in the miss of a free throw by Hayward to start the big run, then came up with some acrobatics to close it out.

He converted a lob pass from Cubillan on one fast break, then went in alone on another for a dunk. Hayward closed the run with a rebound basket that made it 69-57 with 3:21 to go.

The thoughts of the big upset were gone as the Silverswords never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

Marquette led 39-30 at halftime but Chaminade opened the second half with a 6-0 run to get within three points.

The loss dropped Chaminade's record in the tournament to 4-64, with its last win a first-round victory over an undermanned Villanova in 2003.
         

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111907aaa.html