#3 Marquette Fends Off Upset Bid From #14 Davidson, 59-58

Mar 21, 2013; Lexington , KY, USA; Davidson Wildcats guard Nik Cochran (12) dribbles against Marquette Golden Eagles guard Derrick Wilson (12) in the first half during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

We almost had our first big upset of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but it was not to be. The Marquette Golden Eagles put together a furious comeback in the final minute to survive against the Davidson Wildcats, 59-58. Marquette trailed from the 10:44 mark of the second half until literally the final second, when a layup from Vander Blue pushed the Golden Eagles on to the round of 32.

The underdog Wildcats kept this one close for the full 40 minutes, and actually led by seven with 1:49 to play in the game. But the Golden Eagles, statistically the worst three-point shooting team in the dance, drained 3-of-3 from deep in the final 1:02 to snatch the upset away from Davidson. Jamil Wilson drilled two of Marquette’s clutch shots from downtown, the last one coming with 10 seconds to play. A Davidson turnover on the ensuing in-bounds play set the scene for Blue’s heroics.

Marquette will now advance in the East Region to take on the sixth-seeded Butler Bulldogs, who dispatched the Bucknell Bison earlier today. The match-up in Lexington, Kentucky is set for Saturday.