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Xavier Falls Short in Thrilling Matchup Against No. 9 Marquette
By
Musketeer Madness,
12/22/2024
A furious late rally by Xavier men’s basketball wasn’t enough as the Musketeers fell 72-70 to No. 9 Marquette in a BIG EAST showdown at the Cintas Center on Saturday. Despite an electrifying 14-0 run that turned the tide late in the second half, Xavier couldn’t hold off the Golden Eagles in the final moments of a tightly contested game.
The Musketeers (8-5, 0-2 BIG EAST) showed resilience after trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half. Jerome Hunter led the charge, finishing with 15 points and 5 rebounds, including several key plays during Xavier’s second-half surge. Marcus Foster and Dayvion McKnight added 16 and 14 points, respectively, as the trio nearly carried the Musketeers to an upset.
Marquette (11-2, 2-0 BIG EAST) leaned on Kam Jones, who posted a game-high 20 points, and David Joplin, who chipped in 19 points and 5 rebounds. The Golden Eagles shot 60% from the field in the second half, countering every Xavier run with timely baskets. Joplin’s layup with 1:17 left and Jones’ free throws in the final seconds sealed the win.
Xavier’s 14-0 run began midway through the second half when they trailed 63-50. McKnight and Hunter combined for several crucial buckets during the rally, with Hunter’s layup giving the Musketeers a 64-63 lead with 2:17 remaining. The raucous Cintas Center crowd of 10,452 erupted as Xavier appeared poised for a statement victory.
However, Marquette’s experience shone through in the closing minutes. Jones responded with a jumper to reclaim the lead, and Joplin followed with another score to extend it to 67-64. Although Xavier had opportunities in the final minute, costly turnovers and clutch free throws by the Golden Eagles kept the Musketeers at bay.
The Musketeers shot an impressive 62.5% from the floor in the second half and 80% from the free-throw line overall but were undone by 14 turnovers. Marquette capitalized with 16 points off those mistakes, which proved to be the difference in a game decided by just two points.
Xavier remains at home for its next contest, a BIG EAST clash with Seton Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 31. The Musketeers will look to secure their first conference win of the season when they tip off at 2:00 p.m., streamed live on Peacock.
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