Semaj Christon scores career-high 28, Xavier beats Marquette 86-79 for 8th straight win

Xavier's Isaiah Philmore shoots past Marquette's Chris Otule in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game at Xavier in Cincinnati, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman) (The Associated Press)

Xavier's Isaiah Philmore pulls a rebound down past Marquette's Chris Otule in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game at Xavier in Cincinnati, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman) (The Associated Press)

Semaj Christon scored a career-high 28 points and hit back-to-back 3s in the closing minutes Thursday night, helping Xavier hold on for an 86-79 victory over Marquette and its eighth win in a row.

Xavier (13-3, 3-0 Big East) let a 12-point lead slip away in the second half before Christon hit the pair of 3s, putting the Musketeers ahead to stay in a matchup of the league's top defensive and rebounding teams.

Marquette (9-7, 1-2) hadn't allowed 80 points this season. Xavier dominated the boards 39-20 and went 32 of 41 on free throws.

The Golden Eagles were last in the league in 3-pointers, but stayed close by making a season-high 11 shots from beyond the arc. Davante Gardner had 19 points.

Xavier improved to 11-0 at the Cintas Center this season and 182-25 in its 14 seasons at the on-campus arena.

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