No. 12 Xavier improves to 15-3 (7-0 BIG EAST) on the year

CINCINNATI – Six Musketeers scored in double figures on Sunday afternoon as No. 12 Xavier defeated No. 25 Marquette, 80-76, at Cintas Center. The Musketeers improved to 15-3 (7-0 BIG EAST), while the Golden Eagles dropped to 14-5 (6-2 BIG EAST).

The game featured seven ties and 10 lead changes. With the game tied at 72-72, the Musketeers finished the game on an 8-4 run to win their 11th straight game. Xavier went 1-for-1 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the foul line during the run, highlighted by six points from Souley Boum. 

NOTABLES

 Xavier had six Musketeers in double figures for the first time since Feb. 23, 2022 (L, 99-92 at Providence in 3OT).

• Souley Boum and Jack Nunge led Xavier with 16 points each. Boum added six rebounds and five assists. Nunge pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. The forward added a game-high three blocks and two steals.

• Colby Jones fished with 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Adam Kunkel chipped in 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.

• Zach Freemantle posted 10 points and eight rebounds, while Jerome Hunter recorded 11 points and four rebounds. 

• Xavier finished the game with a .449 field-goal percentage (31-for-69) and was 5-for-18 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 13-for-17 from the foul line.

• The Musketeers posted 20 assists, the team’s 12th game of the season with 20 or more assists. Xavier won the battle on the glass, 45-32, and had 17 offensive rebounds (second most offensive rebounds in a game this season).

• Xavier scored nine more second-chance points (17-8) than the Golden Eagles. Both teams scored 13 bench points. Marquette held an 11-7 advantage in point off of turnovers and scored two more points in the paint (42-40).

COURTESY XAVIER ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS