CHESTERFIELD • With the outcome of Wednesday's game hanging in the balance, Marquette's Ryan Rosburg delivered a victory in his last home game.
With the non-conference game against Parkway Central tied, Rosburg fielded an inbounds pass near midcourt with 4.2 seconds to play. The 6-foot-10 senior glided through traffic and took the ball to the basket. Rosburg was fouled on the play and after an officials meeting, 0.3 was put on the clock. Rosburg sank the first of two free throws and the Mustangs, who have seen their share of hard times this season, came away with the 40-39 victory.
"That is a tough one to lose," Marquette coach Shane Matzen said. "The older I get the more pain I feel for the other team in games like these."
In drawing the foul, Rosburg showed a good bit of hoops savvy. He could have rushed the shot and come away empty.
"Four seconds seems like an eternity," Rosburg said. "We work on drills like that all that time where we put three seconds on the clock and have to go the length of the floor. I knew I could get to the rim. I had better odds than pulling up making a 3."
Rosburg finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and was four for six from the foul line.
Dillon Jones added 10 points for Marquette, who improved to 14-10. The Mustangs will be at Northwest on Friday.
Zach Biggs and Zach Carel scored 12 points apiece to lead Parkway Central (15-9). The Colts will play Friday at Webster Groves.
Biggs, who was plagued by foul trouble in the first half, turned in a terrific fourth quarter.
With Marquette leading 30-26, Biggs scored eight quick points to cut the lead to 36-35. With two free throws from Matt Hink and a free throw by Jones, Marquette led 39-37. But Biggs, who missed two free throws with 28.6 left, got a shot at redemption following a Mustang turnover. The Colts worked the ball around the perimeter before Biggs, a senior, knocked down a jumper from the elbow to tie the game with 4.2 seconds left.
Marquette had the upper hand in the first half, going up 7-5 after one quarter and 21-19 at half.
After losing three of its last five games, Marquette ached to get back in the win column.
"We really needed and deserved a win," Matzen said. "We have had five overtime loses and injuries, but our guys have still stayed strong."
