Mar 12, 2009 - 8:37 AM
0 shoutsNo. 21 Marquette (23-8) at No. 13 Villanova (25-6) 2:00 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Villanova made it through the Big East regular season in fourth place, guaranteeing it a bye into the tournament quarterfinals. Marquette was the team the Wildcats edged out.
The 13th-ranked Wildcats will be looking to knock off the 21st-ranked Golden Eagles for the second time this season when they meet on Thursday.
The Wildcats (25-6, 13-5 Big East) won five of six coming down the stretch to edge out Marquette (23-8, 13-6), which was reeling from the loss of senior leader Dominic James.
Led by the duo of Dante Cunningham and Scotty Reynolds, Villanova closed its regular season with a 97-80 win over Providence on March 5. Reynolds and Cunningham combined for 42 points and Dwayne Anderson added 19 in the victory.
The Golden Eagles closed the regular season with four straight losses but redeemed themselves in a second-round matchup against St. John's on Wednesday, dominating their way to a 74-45 win. They allowed the Red Storm 10 points in the first half.
Marquette won the first meeting of the season but Villanova came back with a 102-84 win on February 10 behind 27 points from Reynolds.
From the Bleachers
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MARQUETTE: 75
VILLANOVA: 76
Final
Mar 12 4:45 PM -
Marquette(21) 67, Villanova(13) 70 2nd Half - 4:02
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Added 15 roots (Close Finish, Upset, Ranked Teams)
Mar 12 4:28 PM -
Marquette(21) 65, Villanova(13) 69 2nd Half - 4:20
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Added 26 roots (Close Finish, Upset, Ranked Teams)
Mar 12 4:26 PM -
MARQUETTE: 31
VILLANOVA: 47
Halftime
Mar 12 3:27 PM -
Marquette(21) 0, Villanova(13) 0 1st Half - 19:58
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Added 16 roots (Ranked Teams)
Mar 12 2:28 PM
