BOISE, Idaho — Lazar Hayward scored Marquette’s first and last points.
He had plenty of big plays in between, too, scoring 26 to lead the Golden Eagles to a 58-57 win over Utah State in the first round of the West Regional.
Hayward, who was averaging 16 points, scored Marquette’s first 10 points and was almost perfect from the foul line as the Golden Eagles held off the Aggies.
“He’s a big-time player, and I still don’t think he gets enough credit,” said Wesley Matthews, who had 11 points for Marquette. “If you want to play off of Lazar that’s fine. We’ll just pass it to him all the time.”
The Golden Eagles blew a 14-point lead, then overcame a 49-43 deficit. Hayward spurred the comeback, muscling for key baskets and rebounds and drawing a couple of big fouls.
Top Huskie back: Friday, there was a return to normalcy for Connecticut.
Having spent a night in a hospital, forced to sit out UConn’s NCAA opener Thursday against Chattanooga, coach Jim Calhoun was back directing practice at the Palestra on Friday morning, then back on stage for a wide-ranging news conference at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
Calhoun did not watch Thursday’s game — not live, anyway. Having trouble sleeping as Thursday turned to Friday, he watched a tape of the 103-47 victory around 4 a.m. He liked what he saw.
“There was a great deal of happiness and joy (among players),” Calhoun said. “Pure joy. Even a little more bounce in their step.”
Orange a little green? Syracuse was short-handed in its victory Friday in Miami over 14th-seeded Stephen F. Austin because senior forward Kristof Ongenaet, a key reserve, and senior guard Justin Thomas, both missed the game due to illness. He and Thomas are rooming together at the team hotel. And they weren’t the only ones sick.
“I think I feel worse than Ongenaet does,” coach Jim Boeheim said.
Boeheim has been sick for a few days. Players said they hoped to spend time by the pool or resting.
“Everybody has a cough or is a little sick,” Jonny Flynn said.
New direction: An emotional coach Brian Gregory said he could barely find words to describe what the victory over West Virginia meant to Dayton’s program. “This is unbelievable for us,” said Gregory, who just signed a five-year contract extension Wednesday. “These guys have helped build a new culture in our program. It’s really pleasing to see them rewarded.”
