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Thames scores 29, leads SDSU to 2nd win over ranked foe, beating No. 25 Marquette 67-59

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Marquette center Chris Otule, right, and San Diego State forward Josh Davis grapple in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Wooden Legacy tournament in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) (The Associated Press)

San Diego State forward Winston Shepard (13) shoots past Marquette forward Jamil Wilson (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Wooden Legacy tournament in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) (The Associated Press)

Xavier Thames scored a career-high 29 points and San Diego State held off a late rally to beat No. 25 Marquette 67-59 in championship game of the Wooden Legacy on Sunday night.

The game was tied at 53 with 3½ minutes remaining, but the Aztecs (5-1) closed with a 14-4 run to knock off their second ranked opponent in two games.

Thames, who was named tournament MVP, shot 7 of 16 from the field, including 5 for 6 from three-point range. He also drained six free throws in the finals 40 seconds to secure the win.

Josh Davis had a game-high 11 rebounds and joined Thames on the all-tournament team, and Dakari Allen and Winston Shepard each scored eight points for SDSU.

Deonte Burton scored 15 points to lead Marquette (5-3), which lost to its second unranked opponent in a week.