GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Travis Diener scored 31 points and made the winning jumper with 2.6 seconds left in overtime Saturday to lift Marquette past East Carolina 71-69.
Steve Novak added his own big shot, draining a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds left in regulation to force overtime for the Golden Eagles (17-7, 5-6 Conference USA). That capped a rally from a seven-point deficit in the final three minutes of regulation.
Mike Cook scored 21 points to lead the Pirates (7-16, 2-9), who came up short after rallying from a 12-point second-half deficit.
Diener's big day allowed the Golden Eagles to win for the first time in three meetings here. Marquette had lost at Minges Coliseum in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons despite being ranked No. 9 each time.
Diener refused to be beaten again. After Corey Rouse made a free throw to tie the score with 14.8 seconds left, Diener brought the ball up the court and pulled up in front of Japhet McNeil for the winning shot.
McNeil's desperation heave as time expired failed to hit the rim.
Diener scored six points and had Marquette's only field goal in overtime.
East Carolina did its best to continue its homecourt success against Marquette, erasing a 38-26 deficit behind Cook's strong play.
Down 51-45 with less than eight minutes remaining, the Pirates scored on their next eight possessions to take a 63-56 lead with 2:52 left. Cook, East Carolina's leading scorer, ignited the 18-5 run with nine points on a variety of strong drives to the basket.
Marquette pulled with 63-61 on a pair of free throws by Diener with 1:07 to go, but with a chance to tie with 21 seconds remaining, the Golden Eagles turned the ball over on a shot-clock violation. After Rouse hit 1 of 2 free throws, the stage was set for Novak's shot from the left wing to tie.
Rouse added 18 points and 10 rebounds for East Carolina.
