Dec. 28, 2000
NEW ORLEANS - Chris Marcus scored 15 points, Derek Robinson added 12 and Western Kentucky got 24 points from its reserves Thursday in a 68-63 victory over New Orleans in the Sun Belt Conference opener for each team.
Marcus, a 7-foot-1 center and the conference's most valuable defensive player last season, also had a game-high eight rebounds for Western Kentucky (7-4 overall), which was the pre-season pick to win the Sun Belt East Division.
Western led most of the first half before going in down by one (32-31) at the intermission. And, the Privateers pushed out to a seven-point lead near the midway point of the second period before the Toppers rallied for the victory.
Marcus scored 12 of his 15 points in the final 20 minutes and had seven of his eight rebounds on the night in the second half. And, Robinson nailed two big three-pointers down the stretch at crucial points. Then, Mike Wells made good on all four of his free throw attempts in the crucial final 36 seconds to seal the win for the Toppers.
Clyde Ellis led New Orleans with 16 points, Rickie Marlowe had 14 and Curtis Wilson 10.
Marcus' 15 points improved his career scoring total to an even 500 points (in just 40 collegiate games) and his eight boards moved him within four rebounds of number 400 in that category.
