Another Big East Team Goes Down: Marquette Upset By Washington, 80-78

Yesterday’s loss to Washington was Marquette’s 16th game this season that was decided by four points or less, the most in all of college basketball. The loss brought Marquette’s record in those games to ... 8-8, which is where it should be when you play so many games that could go either way.

Pondexter, who had 18 points, dribbled to his left, past Marquette forward Jimmy Butler and then leaned in for a double-clutch shot that fell. Lazar Hayward’s heave from center court was off the mark and the Huskies (25-9) advanced to play Saturday against either third seed New Mexico or 14th-seeded Montana.

The Big East Conference went into the tournament with eight teams, but lost three on day one thanks to upsets and nearly a giant shocker in the afternoon. Georgetown, a No. 3 seed from the Midwest, was beaten by Ohio University, 97-83. Notre Dame, the sixth seed from the South, lost to Old Dominion, 51-50. Villanova, the second seed from the South, was on the ropes nearly the entire game before pulling out a 73-70 overtime triumph over pesky Robert Morris.