• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Marquette edges Washington on late shot

Dec 7, 2011 - 7:36 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Jae Crowder hit a game-winning three-pointer with seven seconds remaining, lifting No. 11 Marquette over Washington, 79-77, in Tuesday's Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.

The Huskies (4-3) took a 77-76 lead on Terrence Ross' mid-range bank shot with 19 seconds left, but Crowder emerged from a screen on the other end and knocked down a corner trey to put Marquette on top.

"I got a good screen...and once that happened I had a good look at the rim," Crowder said.

Abdul Gaddy's desperate heave sailed over the backboard as time expired, sealing the Golden Eagles' first 8-0 start since 2006-07.

Darius Johnson-Odom scored a game-high 23 points in the win, while Crowder added 18 points and six boards. Todd Mayo and Vander Blue both chipped in 11 points each.

Washington, which has lost three of its last four, was paced by Ross' 19 points. C.J. Wilcox had 15, while Darnell Gant and Tony Wroten finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

"I couldn't be more proud of the way our guys played," Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar said. "We didn't finish the game, but we're making progress."

For Marquette, Tuesday's game proved a measure of revenge.

The teams last met in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament in 2010, when the Huskies downed the Golden Eagles, 80-78, on Quincy Pondexter's bucket with 1.7 seconds remaining.

This game proved equally tight-knit, featuring 19 lead changes, including 18 in the second half.

Marquette held a 37-34 lead at the break, but Washington quickly jumped in front, taking a 42-41 lead on Ross' layup with 17:09 remaining.

The bucket triggered a back-and-forth second-half finish which wouldn't be resolved until the final buzzer sounded.

With 1:58 left, a traditional three-point play by Johnson-Odom put the Golden Eagles on top, 74-73, but Ross tied it on the other end with a tip-in off a Gaddy miss.

Johnson-Odom hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 76-75 lead with 32 seconds remaining, but Ross went up between two defenders near the foul-line and banked a shot off glass to give Washington the lead.

Crowder responded, running baseline, catching a pass from Blue in the corner and draining the game-winner.

The game's back-and-forth finish belied Washington's strong start, as the Huskies jumped out to an early 13-4 lead. The Golden Eagles didn't pull even until Mayo hit a pair of free throws with 7:55 remaining in the first half. They grabbed the lead on Jamil Wilson's trey minutes later and took a slim advantage into the half.

Relief is not in sight for the Huskies, who visit Duke on Saturday.

Game Notes

This was the fourth all-time meeting between the teams. Marquette holds a 3-1 advantage...With his next win, Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar will join Hec Edmundson and Marv Harshman as the only Husky head coaches to reach 200.