Purple Haze

.....And so ends a frustrating regular season for Marquette basketball in 2004-2005. MU fell into a familiar pattern today when it failed to hold onto a 49-42 lead with 2:44 remaining in regulation, eventually losing to TCU in overtime, 60-57. This marks MU's fourth-straight defeat at the hands of the Horned Frogs, and the third time in less than a month that MU was unable to bring home the 'W' despite maintaining a sizeable lead late in the game (see Louisville and TCU in the regular season).

MU was victimized late in regulation by an effective press from TCU, which at one point accounted for five turnovers in a one minute span. During the close of regulation and in overtime, TCU seemingly was able to turn MU over at will as the Warriors looked tentative and timid against the pressure. MU landed up with 23 turnovers for the game, and lost despite holding TCU to a mere 15% shooting in the second half and outrebounding the Frogs by 38-25. But turnovers were the story down to the wire, as TCU's Marcus Sloan tipped away an MU inbounds pass that quickly led to a Corey Santee 3-pointer with 12 seconds to play. Santee just kills MU, it seems.

Steve Novak led MU with 16 points, with only three points coming after halftime. Todd Townsend contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, while Marcus Jackson delivered a workman-like 16 rebounds and five assists. Perhaps the most telling statistic though, were the 14 combined turnovers from Novak, Chapman and Townsend, many of which came in crunch time. Now, MU waits to see if the 19-11 effort is enough to attract a bid to the NIT.

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