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Marquette Holds Off Crowd-inspired Cougars By
JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer
 CINCINNATI
(AP) � Cordell Henry scored 27 points and No. 13 Marquette used its balanced
offense to beat Houston 85-73 Friday, earning a berth in the Conference USA
championship game.
Marquette (26-5) returns to the final for the first time
since 1997, when it beat Charlotte for its only Conference USA tournament
title.
With Henry running a highly efficient offense, the Golden
Eagles built a 20-point lead and held on against the most surprising team in
the tournament.
Houston (18-14) made it to the semifinals for the first time
despite a depleted roster and low expectations.
After consecutive nine-win seasons, the Cougars put up their
best record since 1992-93, when they went 21-9.
Marquette shot 57 percent from the field overall and made
seven of its first eight shots in the second half as it pulled ahead by 20,
then weathered a crowd-energized Houston run that cut the lead to eight.
The Cougars became only the third team this season to make
half of its shots against Marquette � Houston shot 52 percent from the field
� but never stopped the Golden Eagles' offense for long.
Dwyane Wade scored 18 points, and Oluoma Nnamaka added 11.
Louis Truscott led Houston with 20.
Henry, who showcased his endurance in the quarterfinals by
scoring 24 points and darting through Louisville's full-court press,
demonstrated his grit a day later.
He landed awkwardly after making one of his trademark
floating jumpers only two minutes into the game, twisting his ankle. He came
up lame, hobbled down the court and moved gingerly for the next minute or
so, but never made a move toward the bench.
After Dominic Smith's jumper put Houston ahead 19-14, Henry
started dashing toward the basket again. He hit a 3-pointer and a pull-up
jumper during an eight-point burst that put Marquette ahead to stay, 26-22.
Travis Diener hit a pair of 3-pointers 36 seconds apart,
pushing the lead to 39-30. Henry and Wade then pulled off the game's most
electrifying play, passing back and forth on a fastbreak that Wade finished
with a dunk for a 45-34 halftime lead.
Houston, playing its third game in three days, appeared to
wear down at the start of the second half while Marquette went on a 16-4
run. Henry's jumper made it 61-41 with 14:37 to go.
On the verge of a rout, Houston regrouped for one last
surge. Marcus Oliver hit a 3-pointer, a pair of free throws and a driving
layup in an 11-point run that cut it to 61-53.
As Houston rallied, the large contingent of Cincinnati fans
cheered for the Cougars, hoping the fifth-ranked Bearcats would face them in
the finals instead of Marquette.
Henry quieted the crowd and stopped the comeback. He passed
to Wade for a fast-break layup, then hit a pull-up jumper that rebuilt the
lead to 12 points. He also had a three-point play � he was fouled on an
18-foot jumper � that made it 73-60 with 4:05 left.
The Cougars once again played without forward George
Williams, who sprained his ankle in the quarterfinals.
Copyright 2001
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
02/23/2007 10:50:16 AM
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