Cincinnati 70, Marquette 66

January 7, 2006

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Eric Hicks recorded a triple double with 22

points, a career-high 10 blocked shots and 12 rebounds as

Cincinnati ran its winning streak to 10 games with a 70-66 victory

over Marquette in a Big East Conference game Saturday.

Cincinnati, which opened the conference season Tuesday with an

82-60 win at DePaul, overcame an early 12-point second-half deficit

to beat its former Conference USA opponent.

The Bearcats (13-2, 2-0), who had a season-high 18 blocked

shots, trailed 48-36 but went on a 24-11 run to grab a 60-59 lead

on an Armein Kirkland jumper. Then after a missed shot by

Marquette, Kirkland nailed a 3-pointer to push the lead to 63-59.

Marquette closed to within 65-64, but Steve Novak, coming off a

41-point outing against No. 2 Connecticut, missed two 3-point shots

and the Golden Eagles turned the ball over once.

Marquette (11-4, 1-1), which beat Connecticut 94-79 on Tuesday,

was led by Dominic James' 18 points, while Novak added 17 and Jerel

McNeal 16 as Marquette ended its five-game winning streak.

In the first half, it appeared Marquette would extend its

winning streak. After Cincinnati opened the game by making 4-of-5

3-pointers, it made just 2-of-16 from behind the arc the rest of

the game.

With the offense struggling, the Bearcats' defense came to the

rescue. Cincinnati held Marquette to 8-of-28 from the field for 29

percent in the second half after the Golden Eagles made 45 percent

of their shots in the opening half.

In the first half, both teams had spurts.

Marquette jumped to a 10-5 lead as it made four of its first six

shots. The Bearcats answered with a 13-4 run to grab a 18-14 lead.

Cincinnati maintained the lead until McNeal scored back-to-back

baskets to make it 32-30 Marquette. After Cincinnati tied the game

at 34, the Golden Eagles scored 10 straight points as Novak hit

consecutive 3-point shots and two free throws, to give Marquette a

44-34 lead.

Marquette led 46-36 at halftime behind 14 points from James, but

the Bearcats' defense hounded James in the second half, limiting

him to four points.