News Nuggets, 01.15.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Punishment in the works for Hawaii Bowl brawlers

The fur flew at the conclusion of the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Day, with a fist-throwing, helmet swinging donnybrook breaking out between between the teams after Hawaii defeated Conference USA member Houston 54-48 in a triple-overtime heart-pounder.

Now the hammer is about to drop on some Houston players, even though C-USA and Houston officials have indicated they believe the free-for-all was precipitated in part by a volatile atmosphere not brought under control by stadium security.

"We have completed our review of the post-game incident at the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, involving the University of Hawaii and University of Houston football teams," said C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky in a Wednesday statement. "This review included analysis of all available videotapes.

"Following our review, Conference USA, in conjunction with the University of Houston, has identified several student-athletes who will be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension from competition. The individuals involved and the specific nature of the penalties will remain unspecified."

Banowsky's statement also included favorable words about Houston coach Art Briles and expressed support for Houston athletic director Dave Maggard's previously declared contention that the fight was not started by Houston players.

"Although we feel as if the hostile environment contributed to this situation, we take issues of this nature very seriously. We appreciate the leadership exhibited by Coach Art Briles and the University of Houston administration and we consider this matter closed."

Banowsky, Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson and Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier had agreed last week that suspensions for both teams were in order.

ECU-U of L tickets: Get 'em while you can

As of Wednesday afternoon, East Carolina's ticket office had only 400 ducats remaining for tonight's ECU-Louisville game. The tickets will go on sale today at 9 a.m.

A Wednesday rush on tickets by students depleted the allotment set aside for them. The final few hundred will be for sale to the public until 5 p.m., with any tickets still available after that time made available for student pickup.

The ECU ticket office is located in the Old Pirate Club Building on the south side of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. After 5 p.m., tickets will be available from the Minges Coliseum box office only. For information, call 252.328.4500.

Tip-off time for the for the Conference USA battle, which will be televised by ESPN2, is 9 p.m.

Read a more detailed story on ECUPirates.com...

Bearcats dispel doubts, rip non-cream puff

MILWAUKEE — Cincinnati used its pressure defense to offset any homecourt advantage Marquette may have had.

Tony Bobbitt scored 18 points and Nick Williams added a season-high 16 to lead No. 10 Cincinnati to an 85-73 victory over No. 21 Marquette on Wednesday night, only the Golden Eagles' second loss in 40 home games.

The convincing win answered any questions critics had about how Cincinnati would fare once it moved beyond a relatively soft early-season schedule.

It was the first time the Bearcats (12-0, 3-0 Conference USA) played a ranked team this year and they proved they were up to the task, scoring 24 points off Marquette's season-high 23 turnovers.

"There's no doubt we were ready to play," Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins said. "We were looking for a challenge."

Marquette's Travis Diener scored 19 points, but missed seven of 11 shots, and Steve Novak added 17 points for Marquette (11-3, 2-1), which had a four-game winning streak snapped. The only other loss for the Golden Eagles at the Bradley Center during the past 40 games was 73-70 to Louisville on Feb. 15, 2003.

"We knew what we had to do to win, but we just didn't execute as a team," Diener said.

It was the biggest game of the year for the Bearcats, who had their streak of seven consecutive Conference USA championships snapped last year by Marquette. It was the only regular-season game between the teams this year.

"They have something that we feel belongs to us and that's the conference title," Williams said. "They're the best team we've played all year and they're conference champions. They have something we want."

Marquette practiced its offense against seven defenders to get ready for Cincinnati's pressure. It mattered little as the Golden Eagles had trouble with the Bearcats' tall, athletic players most of the game.

"We were our own worst enemy against the press," Marquette coach Tom Crean said. "We didn't strike first. They did."

Cincinnati used a 14-4 run to take a 50-35 lead on Field Williams' 3-pointer with 12:23 left. After a timeout, Marquette used full-court pressure to cause two turnovers on defense, and the Golden Eagles scored seven consecutive points, capped by Scott Merritt's two free throws, to pull within 50-42 with 10:08 to go.

Bobbitt, though, scored seven points in the next 2½ minutes, including a 3-pointer with 7:30 left, as Cincinnati opened a 62-48 lead.

Marquette fouled in the closing minutes, and the Bearcats missed nine of 21 free throws in the final 6:04 to allow the Golden Eagles to stay within striking distance.

Marquette got within 77-70 on Merritt's three-point play with 1:01 left, but Field Williams made two free throws for a 79-70 lead with 56 seconds to go. Joe Chapman then missed a 3-pointer for Marquette and Karon Bradley's shot was blocked on the Golden Eagles next possession to seal the victory for Cincinnati.

Sophomore Eric Hicks set a career high with 15 points and tied a career high with 10 rebounds for the Bearcats. Merritt scored 16 points for Marquette.

Cincinnati's defense helped it take a 34-25 halftime lead. Marquette committed 16 turnovers leading to 14 Bearcats' points, and Diener missed five of six shots. Cincinnati, though, missed 22 of 32 shots in the half.

It was the closest game of the year for the Bearcats, who won their first 11 games by an average of 26.2 points.

Cincinnati starting forward Armein Kirkland missed the game with a left knee injury. The sophomore is averaging 6.8 points.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007