NEW YORK — In a thrilling encounter at the Big East Tournament quarterfinals, Kam Jones delivered a standout performance, scoring 28 points to propel No. 25 Marquette to an 89-87 comeback victory against Xavier on Thursday.
The game witnessed the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles (23-9) overcoming a significant 14-point deficit early in the second half. They seized the lead at 81-80 following a crucial layup by Jones with just 1:16 left on the clock.
David Joplin contributed to the team’s success with a decisive 3-pointer with only 26 seconds remaining, ensuring Marquette’s advancement to face sixth-ranked and top-seeded St. John’s in the semifinal game at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.
On Xavier’s side, Ryan Conwell put up an exceptional performance with a career-high 38 points, setting a school record for a Big East Tournament game. The fourth-seeded Musketeers, standing on the precipice of an NCAA Tournament berth, saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end.
