Another Nail-Biter, Another Marquette 'W'

FanHouse Big East senior writer Brett McMurphy is in New York breaking down every game of the Big East tournament.

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NEW YORK -- One of these days, Marquette might actually be involved in a game that is not decided in the final minute.

Then again, the Golden Eagles have grown to like all these close calls. They almost expect them.

Wednesday was another game decided at the buzzer for coach Buzz Williams. Ho hum, another boring two-point decision, this one 57-55 against St. John's in the second round of the Big East tournament.

Marquette (21-10) has had 14 of its 31 games decided by five points or less. After losing six of those first seven close contests, the Golden Eagles have won six of the last seven decided by five points or less.

"We're starting to learn how to play in close games," Marquette's Lazar Hayward said. "We definitely understand that the value of our possessions are very, very vital for us.

"And hopefully that will transpire into the NCAA tournament."

Before the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles can start worrying about the NCAA tournament, they have to face No. 4 seed Villanova on Thursday. Expect another close game.

Marquette appeared like it might get to experience a rare blowout, grabbing a 14-point first-half lead before St. John's (17-15) cut it to 27-17 at halftime.

The Red Storm eventually took the lead and was up 53-52 with a little more than a minute remaining. David Cubillan buried a 3-pointer from the corner, putting Marquette ahead 55-53 with 1:11 remaining.

"I ran the play," Cubillan said. "It was supposed to be [for] Lazar [Hayward], but they cheated the play and I was wide open. And I just shot it. Made it."

With Marquette leading 57-55, MU's Maurice Acker missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with three seconds remaining. But Malik Boothe's desperation shot from beyond half court fell short at the buzzer to the disappointment of the majority of the Madison Square Garden crowd.

"I just think in the second half we got a little too stagnant and a little too passive," Hayward said. "We weren't really aggressive like we were in the first half. And we definitely have to do a better job of attacking when we have leads instead of being passive."

Hayward had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Marquette, while Cubillan added 11 points and Acker 10 points.

Sean Evans and D.J. Kennedy each had 12 points for St. John's and Paris Horne added 10 points.

"Marquette had to make some really big shots and tough shots at the end," St. John's coach Norm Roberts said. "I thought my guys played unbelievably hard and focused.

"We didn't shoot the ball in the first half. But really came back in the second half and played together and did some really good things."

Just not good enough to beat Marquette at the buzzer.

BIG DANCE PLANS

Marquette has had its NCAA tournament ticket punched for a couple of weeks, while St. John's will have to wait for an NIT bid on Sunday.

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK

St. John's won't be escaping from New York, but the Johnnies will be experiencing another "wait til next year" offseason. The Red Storm haven't been to the NCAA tournament since 2002. Will next year be the year? St. John's loses only one senior -- Anthony Mason Jr. -- so the Red Storm should be improved over this season's 6-12 Big East finish.

STAT OF THE GAME

55.6: Marquette actually shot better from 3-point range (55.6 percent) than the Golden Eagles did from the free throw line (50 percent).

SOUNDBITE

"The problem I have is I trust Cuby [David Cubillan] like I trust my wife." -- Marquette coach Buzz Williams about his senior guard, one of three MU seniors.

NEXT UP

Marquette plays No. 4 Villanova (24-6) in Thursday's quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Villanova won both meetings with Marquette this year -- 74-72 at Marquette on Jan. 2 and 78-76 at Villanova on Jan. 9.

Contact FanHouse senior writer Brett McMurphy at brettmcmurphy@gmail.com