(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) – The Marquette University men’s basketball team (15-3, 6-1 BIG EAST) suffered its first loss in conference play on Saturday afternoon to Xavier, 59-57.
The Golden Eagles were led by David Joplin, who had 18 points and six boards. Kam Jones added 11 points and six assists.
Marquette was down by 11 at halftime, the largest deficit at the break this season. A Stevie Mitchell three at the 5:13 mark of the second half cut the Xavier lead to single digits. MU would score five points in the next 59 seconds to make it a four-point game with 3:56 to play.
It was a one-possession game with a minute to go after a Kam Jones bucket made it 58-55. Jones scored Marquette’s final four points of the game, including a driving layup with 11 seconds left that made it a 59-57 game.
Xavier (12-7, 4-4 BIG EAST) was led by Zach Freemantle, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
NOTABLES:
- David Joplin led the team in scoring for the fifth time this season.
- Both games this season vs. Xavier were decided by two points. MU won 72-70 at Cintas Center on Dec. 21, 2024.
- The Golden Eagles faced the largest deficit of the season down 19 at the 14:56 mark of the second half.
- Marquette’s fourth sellout of the season including the students-only game at the Al McGuire Center on Nov. 11. Today’s attendance of 17,881 is the fifth highest in Marquette Fiserv Forum history.
UP NEXT: Marquette returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at Seton Hall.
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