Xavier Musketeers at Marquette Golden Eagles

Thomas leads Marquette over Xavier 81-72

Davante Gardner and Jamil Wilson each added 16 points for Marquette, (15-10, 7-5 Big East). Justin Martin had 20 points for Xavier, 17-8 overall, but also 7-5 in the conference after a 5-1 start. Matt Stainbrook and Myles Davis added 12 points apiece for the Musketeers.

The Golden Eagles used a 10-point run in the first half to open a 19-8 lead. The Musketeers got no closer than six points the rest of the half as Marquette forged a 39-29 lead.

Xavier closed within 59-54 on a 3-pointer by Davis with 11:01 remaining, but Marquette answered with eight straight points to push it to 67-54. Martin's 3-pointer from the right corner pulled Xavier within 75-71 with 2:06 left, but the Golden Eagles responded with six consecutive free throws.

The Musketeers lost despite making 26 of 48 shots for 54.2 percent and a 32-20 rebounding advantage, which they turned into 20 second-chance points.

But Xavier was hurt by a season-high 19 turnovers, which Marquette converted into 27 points. Junior point guard Derrick Wilson registered a career-high six steals for the Golden Eagles.

Thomas, who was 2 of 10 from beyond the arc in the previous two games, made six of his first seven before missing his final three attempts. His previous career highs were five 3-pointers and 17 points, each of which he matched in Marquette's 86-79 loss at Xavier in early January.

Marquette also offset Xavier's slight field-goal advantage by making 24 of 27 free throws, including 18 of 20 in the second half.

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