Rochester, Mich. — In a game that was beginning to look like it had all the makings of an upset — Oakland chiseled Marquette's 15-point lead to two points midway through the second half — the Golden Eagles held off Oakland 95-87 Saturday and remained undefeated.
With 11:02 left in the second half, and the score in Marquette's advantage, 60-58, Oakland's Kris Krzyminski was fouled after stealing the ball from sophomore guard Dameon Mason near midcourt. With the chance to tie the game for the Golden Grizzlies, Krzyminski proceeded to miss both free throws. It was the closest Oakland ever came in the second half.
"I feel like had I knocked down those free throws, we would have won the game," Krzyminski said. "I let my teammates down."
Marquette scored the next five points, with a three from junior Joe Chapman and a jump shot by Mason.
The Golden Eagles were led by Mason's 26 points, a collegiate high. He also had 10 rebounds, registering his second career double-double.
Five Marquette players scored in double figures. Senior guard Travis Diener contributed 23 points, junior forward Steve Novak had 14 points and senior forwards Marcus Jackson and Townsend netted 10 points each.
Once again, Diener proved that he is Marquette's most important player. Despite intense, sometimes full-court, pressure the Golden Eagles committed only seven turnovers. Diener had one turnover and five assists.
"Dick Vitale thought he could make player of the year," Oakland coach Greg Kampe said. "There's no question in my mind. We're going to play all the best players, and I don't know anybody that affects the game the way he does. Marquette only had seven turnovers, and I think he had a lot to do with that."
The Golden Grizzlies were led by Rawle Marshall's game-high 31 points and seven rebounds. Cortney Scott added 24 points and nine rebounds.
Oakland out-rebounded Marquette 44-38, with 22 offensive boards. Going into the game, Marquette had enjoyed a plus-12 rebounding margin.
"If you'd have told me coming in that we'd out-rebound Marquette, Rawle was going to have 31, Cortney was going to have 24, and we were only going to commit six turnovers, I'd have thought we'd win the game," Kampe said. "You've got to give Marquette credit. They're a great team."
One of the keys to the game was three-point field goals. Marquette produced 13-of-27 three-pointers, while Oakland went 7-for-24. Their 13 three-point field goals were the team's most since March 7, 1997, when they scored 13 in a victory over Cincinnati.
The 95 points were the most Marquette has registered since scoring 101 in a win against Missouri in the second round of the NCAA tournament on March 21, 2003.
Over 250 Marquette fans from the Detroit area were in attendance as part of an event hosted by the Marquette Club of Detroit.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that sophomore center Mike Kinsella injured his foot on Wednesday and will be out four to six weeks, according to head coach Tom Crean.
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Nov. 30, 2004.