Xavier opened the game strong, keeping pace with Marquette for the first two and a half minutes despite not making a field goal.
Once the Musketeers hit one, they managed to keep hitting them. They missed only three shots in the first nine minutes, going 8-11 from the field and 2-2 from three-point range.As a result they had a 22-18 lead with 10:40 left in the first half, when the first timeout was taken.
The hot streak continued after Paul Scruggs hit a deep three with 9:11 left that forced a Marquette timeout, and made the score 28-21 Xavier.