It has been said about this Marquette Golden Eagles team that they will win some games they shouldn't win and lose some games they shouldn't lose. Tonight's loss falls into that second category.

They were putting in a textbook away performance in the Big East, and looking as if they were sailing smoothly to a victory to open conference when they opened up a 13 point lead with 12 minutes to play. However, it was at just that moment that the DePaul Blue Demons woke up to close out the game on a 25-9 run and walk out 61-58 winners.

The first half was very much a prototypical Marquette-DePaul clash, with both teams trading baskets in the early going. It was not until we were 13 minutes into the game that we saw two incidents of one team taking a two possession lead. 

It was through good play from Marquette guard Derrick Wilson and DePaul's Billy Garrett that the game had stayed close, and it was through Wilson that Marquette opened up a sizable lead. 

He rattled off two buckets in a row and then added an assist to help Marquette go on a quick 7-0 run which opened up a 29-20 lead late in the first half. When Wilson assisted Duane Wilson to knock down the three-pointer which made it 29-20, it seemed as if the Golden Eagles would kick on and win the game. They traditionally draw a large portion of their student body from the Chicago area, and they enjoyed a customary 'home away from home' atmosphere in the Allstate Arena. The crowd was loud, and it felt as if DePaul would fold as they tend to do against Marquette. That didn't happen.

They were unable to further build on the lead before the half, and went in with a six point lead. However, after the half it seemed we were destined for a blow out. In the opening eight minutes of the second half, Wilson, JaJuan Johnson and Juan Anderson led the Golden Eagles on a 15-8 run to open up a 49-36 lead. They seemed to have the game all wrapped up, and would coast through the rest of the game.

That was exactly when the wheels came off the wagon, as the Blue Devils would go on to finish the game on a 25-9 run. Over the last few minutes of the game, Garrett took the game by the scruff of its neck. He scored 10 of the last 11 points of the game for DePaul, and undoubtedly earned man of the match honors for his shooting to close out the game.

It was a disappointing result for Marquette, but they will get another chance for their first conference win of the season on Saturday when they host Providence. Meanwhile for DePaul, this is a terrific win and will boost morale as they look for their first NCAA Tournament bid in 11 years.

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About the author
Liam McMahon
American sports journalist based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who has been affiliated with VAVEL for more than a year. Co-editor of the soccer section at VAVEL USA and international football writer at VAVEL UK.