{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Xavier 90, Marquette 82
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 6, 2016
Where: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Officials: # Jeffrey Anderson, # Tony Chiazza, # Ed Corbett
Attendance: 10509

CINCINNATI -- Trevon Bluiett scored 23 points, and sophomore guard J.P. Macura added 20 in a rare start including two clutch 3-pointers late in the game as sixth-ranked Xavier held off Marquette, 90-82, on Saturday at Cintas Center.

Freshman guard Edmond Sumner scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half as Xavier (21-2, 9-2 in the Big East) won its fifth straight game since losing at home to Georgetown on Jan. 19.

There were 10 NBA scouts in attendance at the game and Marquette freshman forward Henry Ellenson delivered a dominant performance with 22 points and seven rebounds.

Despite playing with four fouls for much of the second half, freshman guard Haanif Cheatham scored 21 points for the Golden Eagles (15-9, 4-7), who dropped their second straight.

In the first meeting this season -- a 74-66 win by Xavier at Marquette -- the Musketeers went on a 21-0 run in the first half to take control. The Golden Eagles turned the tables on Saturday with a 15-0 run to go ahead 29-20.

Sumner had two 3-pointers and a dunk in a four-minute span en route to a 15-point first half to keep Xavier close.

The Golden Eagles shot only 16 percent from 3-point range in the first meeting, but began Saturday’s game 5-of-8, helping them take a 39-35 lead into halftime.

Cheatham led Marquette with 10 first-half points but also committed three fouls.

Ellenson scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in the first half as Xavier struggled to control the paint.

The Musketeers won despite little production from their big men.

Forward James Farr committed his second foul with nine minutes left in the first half and finished with four points, while forward Jalen Reynolds had seven points.

Bluiett tied the score, 45-45, with a 3-pointer early in the second half, but picked up his fourth foul with 10:31 left.

Ellenson’s 3-pointer gave Marquette a six-point lead, 55-49, with 11:48 remaining.

The Golden Eagles' dominance on the boards helped them maintain their lead for a while. Marquette outrebounded the Musketeers, 35-27.

Marquette led by seven with nine minutes left when Xavier freshman forward Kaiser Gates hit a long 3-pointer. Gates later had a follow dunk to tie the score, 63-63.

An 8-0 Xavier run capped by Macura's transition layup put the Musketeers ahead by two with 7:14 left.

Junior guard Myles Davis had been held to only two points before his 3-pointer put Xavier ahead 72-67.

Cheatham's layup tied the score, 72-72, with 3:40 remaining.

But, Macura who made his fourth start of the season on Saturday hit another 3-pointer moments later to again give Xavier a three-point lead.

And, Davis' short jumper made the score 82-77 with 1:11 left.

NOTES: Xavier G Myles Davis came off the bench Saturday after starting each of the first 22 games. ... Marquette F Henry Ellenson earned Big East newcomer of the week honors for the fifth time this season after averaging 22 points, including a 32-point effort in a win over Butler. ... Xavier has clinched its third straight 20-win season and has done so in 18 of the past 20 years. ... Marquette leads the series, 47-21, including 26 straight victories from 1969 to 1983. But Xavier has won six of the last seven and five straight.
Top Game Performances
 
Marquette   Xavier
Henry Ellenson 22 Scoring Trevon Bluiett 23
Traci Carter 7 Assists Trevon Bluiett 8
Sandy Cohen III 9 Rebounds Jalen Reynolds 9
Henry Ellenson 7 Free Throws Made Trevon Bluiett 4
Haanif Cheatham 2 Steals Trevon Bluiett 1
Henry Ellenson 2 Blocks Trevon Bluiett 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Marquette 82 54.7 9-17 15-21 16 35 6 6 20
Xavier 90 50.8 13-20 15-24 24 23 3 4 9