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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 22, 2007

Duke tops Marquette for fourth Maui title

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

LAHAINA, Maui — The Duke Blue Devils claimed their fourth EA Sports Maui Invitational championship, but the Division II Chaminade Silverswords are most thankful after nipping the Princeton Tigers, 74-70, for their first win over a Division I basketball program in four years.

The 10th-ranked Blue Devils (5-0) shot 50 percent from the field and improved to 12-0 in the Lahaina Civic Center by outlasting 13th-ranked Marquette (4-1), which fought hard but fell short, 77-73.

Duke freshman forward Kyle Singler, the tournament MVP, scored 25 points, including the clinching free throws with 13 seconds left, to lead three starters who scored in double figures. The game was tied 10 times, with eight lead changes.

"Wow, that was great game. I have to remind myself it's Nov. 21st," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Both of those teams left their heart on the floor and they (Marquette) play as hard as any team that we play against. We beat a great opponent."

Duke won the title here in 1992, 1997 and 2001. No other school has won more than two titles in the 24-year history of the tournament.

The Blue Devils' first 11 wins came by an average of 18.9 points, with nine by at least 10 points, but the Golden Eagles took them to the wire.

Forward Lazar Hayward scored 14 points, one of four Golden Eagles to score in double figures. Marquette shot 45 percent from the field, including 7 of 15 from behind the 3-point line.

"We didn't win and we expected to win, but as the season shakes out we'll have learned a ton from this tournament," Marquette coach Tom Crean said. "Even though we didn't get what our goal was it was one of the greatest experiences we'll have. I think both teams brought out the toughness in one another, but their strengths were just too good for us."

In this the 25th anniversary year of Chaminade's defeat of then-No. 1 Virginia, 77-72, the present-day Silverswords hoped to serve as more than a historic centerpiece and actually win a game.

Silversword Junior forward Rodrick Johnson scored 19 points, scoring in double figures for the third straight night on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3 of 4 3-pointers. Senior guard Hayden Heiber added 16 points and senior center Marko Kolaric recorded his third straight double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Silverswords (2-3) shot 55 percent from the field, including 6 of 12 3-pointers, and outrebounded the Tigers 30-26.

"It's joy and relief," said Chaminade coach Matt Mahar, whose team lost two close games earlier. "You really get sick of people saying, 'You played great and were so close.' These kids play to win just like everybody else and now they can hear people say, 'You played great and you won.' "

The Silverswords used their size and speed to pull to a nine-point lead with 7:39 to play on a 3-pointer by senior guard Stewart Kussler.

The Tigers surged late, pulling within two points on a 3-pointer by Lincoln Gunn. Heiber hit two free throws, but Princeton center Zach Finley hit a layup to pull the Tigers within two again with three seconds remaining.

Junior guard LaMarr Hunt, fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass, then hit two free throws to seal Chaminade's win.

NOTES: Named to the all-tournament team were: Duke freshmen forward Kyle Singler (MVP), Duke senior guard DeMarcus Nelson, Marquette junior guard Dominic James, Marquette junior guard Jerel McNeal and Illinois junior guard Calvin Brock.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.