Marshall, Scruggs Lead Xavier in Loss at No. 16 Marquette

Sunday, January 6

Milwaukee, Wis.

12 p.m.

Xavier University

Marquette

Xavier

Marquette

Marshall, Scruggs Lead Xavier in Loss at No. 16 Marquette

01.06.19 | Men's Basketball

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Paul Scruggs posts double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds

By: Laura Topp, Xavier Athletic Communications

MILWAUKEE - Xavier men's basketball fell to the No. 16 Marquette Golden Eagles, 70-52, on Sunday afternoon at Fiserv Forum. Naji Marshall and Paul Scruggs led the Musketeers in double figures as Xavier moved to 9-7 overall and 1-2 in BIG EAST play. Scruggs earned a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Marshall finished the game with 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

FIRST HALF

After a slow start to the half, Naji Marshall got the Musketeers rolling after earning a steal and fast break layup to get Xavier on the board, 3-2.
Paul Scruggs found a spark on free throw line, leading Xavier shooting 3-4, 75.0 percent, at the end of the half.
Scruggs finished the half with seven points and two rebounds.
Kyle Castlin earned a Xavier's only block of the half at the 18-minute mark.
Xavier's bench outscored Marquette 8-0 at the break.
Elias Harden and Keonte Kennedy also gave the Musketeers some energy combining for four points and four rebounds.
The Musketeers turned seven Golden Eagle turnovers into seven points.
The Musketeers trailed at the half 35-26.
Naji Marshall led the Musketeers with eight points, four rebounds and two steals at the break.

SECOND HALF

Marquette opened the second half going on a 11-2 run to extend their lead to 20 points.
The Musketeers responded with a 15-6 run to bring the score to 54-43, with around seven minutes to play, led by Naji Marshall's nine points and Paul Scrugg's six points.
Marquette responded with a run and extended the lead 62-46.
Paul Scruggs fouled out at the four-minute mark, finishing the game with a double-double 17 points and 10 rebounds. Scruggs shot 5-11 from the field and 7-8, 87.5 percent from the line.
Xavier's three-minute scoring drought resulted in a 8-0 Golden Eagle run, extending the deficit 70-50, before a Marshall basket in the final seconds set the final score at 70-52 in favor of Marquette.
Marshall finished with 13 points in the second half.
Scruggs added 10 for the Musketeers and grabbed eight of Xavier's 18 second-half rebounds.

NOTABLES

Naji Marshall's 21 points led Xavier, marking his 10th double-figure scoring performance of the season, and his second game scoring 20 or more. The other 20 point performance was his career-high 24 points against Wisconsin.
Paul Scrugg's 17 points marks his third straight game in double figures and his 12th double-figure scoring game this season. Scruggs' 10 rebounds are a new career high, marking the sophomore's first career double-double.
MU out-rebounded Xavier 40-35, with both teams grabbing seven offensive boards.
Xavier only connected on one three pointer, while the Golden Eagles shot 10-29 from outside.
The Musketeers' bench out-scored the Marquette bench 11-4.

UP NEXT

Men's basketball returns to Cintas Center on Wednesday, January 9 for another BIG EAST match-up against the Georgetown Bulldogs. The game is set to tip at 6:30 p.m. EST will be broadcasted on FS1.

PHOTOS

Men's Basketball at Marquette by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure