Xavier held on down the stretch to earn a thrilling 59-57 road upset against No. 7 Marquette, marking their third consecutive victory while halting the Golden Eagles’ impressive six-game winning streak on Saturday. Zach Freemantle contributed significantly with 14 points and 10 rebounds, showcasing his importance to the team.
Xavier (12-7, 4-4 Big East) maintained control throughout the game, never trailing and even building a lead as large as 19 points. However, as the game neared its conclusion, they faced a tense moment requiring a crucial defensive stand. Dailyn Swain made a pivotal play by knocking the ball away from Marquette’s Stevie Mitchell, preventing a potential tying shot.
Marquette (15-3, 6-1) had dominated this rivalry recently, winning their last five matchups, including a narrow 72-70 victory at Xavier on December 21. Notably, Freemantle had missed that earlier encounter due to a lower-body injury, making his performance in this game all the more significant.
David Joplin led Marquette with 17 points, but the team struggled at critical moments, particularly during a nearly five-minute scoring drought early in the second half, which allowed Xavier to extend their lead to 45-26.
Takeaways
For Xavier, this victory serves as a significant boost to their NCAA Tournament hopes. It represents their first win over a top-10 opponent since defeating then-No. 2 UConn 83-73 at home on December 31, 2022. This win not only enhances their resume but also reinforces their competitive spirit.
On the other hand, Marquette’s inconsistent performance during crucial stretches proved costly. Despite their recent comeback victories against Georgetown and DePaul, they were unable to recover from the deficit this time, highlighting the need for more consistent offensive execution.
Key moment
In the final seconds, Marquette had a chance to tie the game when Joplin forced a tie ball with Xavier’s Ryan Conwell with just 8.6 seconds left. Chase Ross inbounded the ball to Kam Jones, but the ensuing pass was deflected. Mitchell attempted to drive to the basket but was unable to get a shot off, sealing the win for Xavier.
Key stats
Neither team saw standout performances from their leading scorers. Conwell, fresh off a 34-point game against Villanova, managed only six points, shooting 3 of 13 and failing to connect on any of his eight 3-point attempts. Jones contributed 11 points but struggled as well, shooting 5 of 13 and missing a critical 3-pointer that could have tied the game.
Up next
Marquette will look to bounce back as they face Seton Hall on Tuesday, while Xavier aims to build on their momentum against St. John’s on Wednesday.
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