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Eagles Soar In Victory

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The Associated Press

Published: March 12, 2009

NEW YORK - Wesley Matthews scored 20 points and No. 21 Marquette snapped a four-game losing streak by holding St. John's to a Big East tournament-record 10 points in the first half on the way to a 74-45 victory Wednesday.
Lazar Hayward added 17 points for the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles (24-8), who advanced to Thursday's quarterfinals against fourth-seeded and 10th-ranked Villanova.

It was the first Marquette win since the loss of starting point guard Dominic James to a broken left foot. The Golden Eagles needed him in the four losses - all to ranked teams - but they didn't need him in the rout of St. John's, their ninth straight win over the Red Storm, a streak that dates to 1966.

James sat on the first seat of the bench in a warm-up suit, his crutches next to him.

Paris Horne had 15 points for the Red Storm (16-17), who advanced to the second round with a 64-59 victory over Georgetown. The last time St. John's won two games in a Big East tournament was 2000 when the Red Storm won the third of their three titles.

PROVIDENCE 83,

DePAUL 74
Sharaud Curry scored 25 points and Providence (19-12) held DePaul without a field goal for nearly 8 minutes to beat the surprising Blue Demons (9-24) in the second round of the Big East tournament, enhancing its chances for an NCAA bid.

Eighth-seeded Providence, needing a good showing to help make its case for an at-large bid, got its first victory in the Big East tourney since 2003. The road gets considerably tougher, though, as the Friars face No. 1 seed and fifth-ranked Louisville in the quarterfinals today.

WEST VIRGINIA 74,

NOTRE DAME 62
Alex Ruoff scored 25 points, Devin Ebanks had 17 rebounds and West Virginia (22-10) built a big halftime lead, then held off a surge led by Luke Harangody to beat Notre Dame (18-14) in the second round of the Big East tournament.

West Virginia went up 36-18 at halftime with a smothering defense that pushed Harangody off the ball and forced him to shoot just 2-of-6 for four points in the half. Harangody muscled his way open in the second and ran off nine straight points and 15 of 18 to help the Irish get within eight with 2:27 to play.

But Notre Dame got no closer and the Mountaineers advanced to a matchup with No.2-seeded and second-ranked Pittsburgh.

ROBERT MORRIS 48

MOUNT ST. MARY'S 46

CORAOPOLIS - Dallas Green picked up a loose ball and made a hurried shot with 2.5 seconds remaining for his only basket of the game, and regular-season champion Robert Morris (24-10) shook off its tournament jinx against Mount St. Mary's (19-13) in the Northeast Conference championship game.

Jeremy Chappell scored 15 points as Robert Morris rallied from five points down in the second half to beat the 2008 champion Mountaineers.

Lehigh Women Win Patriot Title

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Alex Ross hit six 3-pointers and scored 21 points to lead Lehigh to its first Patriot League title in 12 years, beating Lafayette 64-56.

The Mountain Hawks (26-6) are heading to only their second NCAA tournament and first since 1997 when they also beat Lafayette (10-22) in the title game.

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