Marquette loses big lead, gets knocked out by Washington
Marquette in a close game? No surprise. Marquette losing a close game? Now that's a surprise.
Twelve of Marquette's 20 Big East games this regular season were decided by three or fewer points - the Golden Eagles went 7-5 plus a two-point win in their Big East Tournament opener - and at one point, they won three straight overtime games. But their luck ran out Thursday night in San Jose, Calif., as No. 11 Washington knocked out No. 6 Marquette, 80-78, in the first round of the East Regional.
Quincy Pondexter drove for a tiebreaking bank shot with 1.7 seconds left, extending Washington's remarkable late-season run into the NCAA Tournament.
Pondexter scored 18 points and Isaiah Thomas had 19 as the Huskies (25-9) won their eighth straight after rallying from a 15-point deficit with 13 1/2 minutes left. Marquette (23-11) had no field goals in the final 4:33.
Kentucky 100, E. Tenn. St. 71
Eric Bledsoe's eight three-pointers set a Kentucky record for an NCAA Tournament game. Bledsoe had 29 points for the top-seeded Wildcats.
Patrick Patterson shot 9-for-10 and had 22 points, and John Wall added 17 points and 11 assists for the Wildcats (33-2). Micah Williams' 18 points led ETSU (20-15).
Wake Forest 81, Texas 80
Ishmael Smith's pull-up jumper from about 17 feet with 1.3 seconds left in overtime gave ninth-seeded Wake Forest the victory in New Orleans.
The Demon Deacons (20-10) twice blew double-digit leads in regulation, but in overtime they rallied from a 76-68 deficit.
The Longhorns (24-10) completed a collapse after being ranked No. 1 in January.
It was the third game that went to overtime on a wild first day of NCAA action. Last year, two games went to OT in the entire tournament.
Roman Martinez had 19 points, six rebounds and four assists for third-seeded New Mexico in San Jose, Calif.
Darington Hobson added 11 points, 11 rebounds and six assists despite playing with a sprained left wrist for the Lobos, who scored 17 straight points in the second half. - AP
