No. 11 Marquette tops Huskies

NEW YORK -- Marquette coach Buzz Williams didn't mince any words when he was asked about senior forward Jae Crowder.

"That's my guy. I'll row with that cat no matter where he goes when his career is over," Williams said. "We don't win that game without the character of our group, and Jae and D.J. (Darius Johnson-Odom) have done a great job leading our guys on a daily basis."

Crowder hit a 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds to play, and the 11th-ranked Golden Eagles beat Washington 79-77 in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

"We knew the play we were running from the previous timeout and came up with the situation that when they do score, get it out as quick as possible," Crowder said. "I did that and had a good look. It felt real good."

Johnson-Odom had 23 points to lead the Golden Eagles (8-0) in an up-and-down game that included 15 lead changes and four ties over the final 12 minutes.

Crowder, who finished with 18 points, hit his only 3-pointer in four attempts nine seconds after Terrence Ross had given the Huskies (4-3) a 77-76 lead with a nice move in the lane, where he was closely guarded by two Marquette players.

"They're real physical, that's the way they play, and you have to be ready for it," Ross said.

Washington had a chance at one more lead change, but Abdul Gaddy's long jumper at the buzzer was well off the mark.

Ross had 19 points to lead the Huskies, who have lost three of four and will remain in New York to face No. 7 Duke on Saturday, also at Madison Square Garden.

C.J. Wilcox had 13 points for the Huskies, and Aziz N'Diaye had four points and 13 rebounds.