The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE - Marquette is one game away from making a second consecutive Final Four appearance, only this time the stakes aren't nearly as high.

Boise State's Aaron Haynes (15) tries to drive to the basket past Marquette's Steve Novak. (AP photo)

Travis Diener scored 15 points, and Marquette held Boise State to a season low in scoring, beating the Broncos 66-53 in the second round of the NIT Tuesday.

The Golden Eagles are the first team since Minnesota in 1998 to fail to make the NCAA Tournament after advancing to the Final Four a year earlier. They return plenty of players from that Final Four team, with freshman Dameon Mason the only newcomer playing a lot.

"Last year was very new," Marquette coach Tom Crean said when asked whether last year's experience helped in the NIT. "Right now, they really know how to lock in and prepare.

"The veterans - there's a calmness about them," he said. "So much of what you do in March is about attitude and what your attitude is like, and our attitude has been great."

Marquette (19-11) will play Iowa State (19-12) in the quarterfinals Thursday or Friday with the time and location to be determined.

Crean bought 1,000 tickets for Marquette students, helping to bolster the crowd to 11,386. He spent time after the game hoping the NIT would give the Golden Eagles a third consecutive home game. "We rushed off the court, lobbying, doing everything we can to get that game," Crean said.

Defense won the game for Marquette, which only shot 37 percent. Boise State (23-10) averages 74 points a game, but missed 32 of 58 shots in failing to tie the school record of 24 victories set in 1987-88.

The Broncos are a running team, but got only eight fast-break points and struggled from the outside, missing 19 of 21 shots from beyond eight feet.

"When you're a running team, and you don't run well and you don't shoot well, it makes it kind of tough to get it done," Boise State coach Greg Graham said.

Iowa State 62, Florida St 59

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Jake Sullivan and Marcus Jefferson each hit two free throws in the final eight seconds to lift Iowa State past Florida State in the second round.

Florida State had pulled with two, 58-56, on a pair of free throws by Tim Pickett with 51.1 seconds left. Jefferson's two free throws put Iowa State ahead by four points with eight seconds left, but Andrew Wilson's 3-pointer made it 60-59 before Sullivan iced the game with his two free throws in the final second.

Florida State (19-14) fell behind early and trailed by as many as 14 points at 35-21 in the second half, but caught up to tie once, at 47-all, on Wilson's first 3-pointer.

Iowa State (19-13) led 33-20 at the half as Florida State shot only 23.2 percent, making only one of its final 17 attempts before halftime. The Cyclones play Marquette Thursday or Friday.

Sullivan, who finished with a game-high 19 points, put Iowa State ahead 16-12 with 11 early points, including three straight 3-point shots.

His 3-point play, a layup and free throw, broke the 47-all tie and Iowa State never trailed.

Adam Waleskowski led Florida State with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Alexander Johnson added 12 points.

Pickett scored seven points and made only 1-of-13 tries from 3-point range.

Oregon 68, George Mason 54

EUGENE, Oregon -- Luke Jackson's final home game at MacArthur Court was one to remember.

Jackson scored 14 points to move into a tie for second place on the school's all-time list as Oregon got past George Mason in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament, 68-54.

Andre Joseph made 5-of-8 3-pointers and scored 22 points for Oregon, which closed the first half with a 16-6 run for a 39-28 halftime lead.