Milwaukee, WI – Davante Gardner's two free throws with 8.3 seconds remaining proved to be the difference, as the Marquette Golden Eagles took down the 15th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas, 49-48, on Saturday.
Gardner's free throws put Marquette up by three, 49-46, but Trent Lockett fouled Greg Whittington on a shot from beyond the arc on the ensuing Georgetown possession.
"I was in extreme help mode," Lockett said. "I tried to jump at him and he jumped forward when he shot, and it was all bad from there."
Whittington made the first two shots from the charity stripe before Marquette coach Buzz Williams called a timeout. The strategy worked as Whittington missed the third free throw.
Lockett pulled down the defensive rebound and was fouled. After missing the first free throw, Lockett intentionally missed the second with one second left. Nate Lubick grabbed the defensive rebound as time expired on Georgetown.
Vander Blue and Gardner had 12 points apiece for the Golden Eagles (11-3, 2-0 Big East), who extended their home winning streak to 18 games. Lockett added nine points and 10 rebounds.
Markel Starks ended with 18 points and seven assists for the Hoyas (10-2, 0-1), who had a seven-game winning streak snapped. Otto Porter Jr. and Whittington each donated 13 points.
"We had our opportunities today and we just didn't convert on a few things," Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. "That's the Big East. Every game, every possession is important."
The Hoyas, playing their first game since Dec. 22, got off to a slow start. Marquette took advantage of a rusty Georgetown team by going on a 13-6 run to start the game. Blue tallied eight points during the burst.
Georgetown responded with the next four points to keep it close. Porter's jumper and Whittington's 3-pointer at the end of the half cut the gap to 20-19.
Trailing by one, 27-26, with 16:25 left in the second half, Marquette put together a 6-0 spurt. Jamil Wilson's jumper and a pair of free throws from Blue and Gardner gave the Golden Eagles a 32-27 lead.
Georgetown scored the next four points and neither team led by more than four the rest of the way.
Game Notes
Georgetown and Marquette have split 14 all-time meetings ... Marquette has won four consecutive games ... The Golden Eagles scored their fewest points in a win since a 48-46 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock on Dec. 9, 2000.
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